Effective Treatment Options for TMJ Pain and Discomfort

When you have headaches, the last place you hope to find relief is in a dentist’s office. However, if your headache is TMJ-related, you’ll be surprised your dentist may be the best-placed medical practitioner to manage your pain. A TMJ dentist like Dr. Ann Kelley at Kingsgate Dental in Kirkland, Washington, has the skills and experience to diagnose and treat TMJ disorder for a pain-free lifestyle.

What is TMJ disorder (TMD)?

Do you know what temporomandibular joints are? You may not know it, but you are currently using your TMJ as you read this article. This joint connects your lower jaw to the skull and allows you to open and close your mouth when eating, talking, yawning, or laughing. When your TMJ is healthy, you don’t even realize you have one. However, when inflamed, injured, or misaligned, your TMJ results in numerous unpleasant symptoms. 

Some include:

• Constant headaches
• Jaw pain or soreness
• Popping sounds when using your jaws
• Earaches or ringing sound in the ears (tinnitus)
• Locked jaw
• Pain when chewing or eating

Teeth grinding is the most common cause of TMD. When you grind your teeth, this action exerts about 250 pounds of force, which puts pressure on your teeth and jaw muscles. Continued teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) wear out your TMJ, resulting in pain. The other reasons you may have TMD include injury, stress, inflammation, or infection. Whatever the cause of your TMJ pain, you should see a TMJ specialist for prompt treatment.

How we treat TMJ pain

Dr. Kelley uses a customized dental device to treat TMJ pain. This appliance fits in your mouth just like a night guard or sports guard and absorbs the grinding forces of your teeth. This plastic shield also gently positions jaws to minimize stress on your TMJ. 

Some patients experience relief as soon as they start wearing a TMJ dental guard. Others may need a few days or weeks before relief kicks in. Whatever the case, wearing your device every night is vital for effective and long-lasting treatment. 

Alongside a dental device, we may recommend the following treatments to manage your TMD:

• Orthodontics treatment to align your poorly positioned bite
• Home remedies, including a cold compress, avoiding chewing gum, and using soft foods
• Jaw exercises
• Anti-inflammation medication in case of arthritis or other inflammatory conditions

TMJ pain can wreak havoc on your sleep, concentration, job, and entire life outlook. You don’t have to put up with chronic pain. Instead, call (425) 385-0080 to talk to Kingsgate Dental about treatment. 

Ann Kelley, DDS

Dr. Ann Kelley is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska. She highly values the comfort of her patients, and places the needs of the patient above her convenience. Her dental clinic is built to bring the best and most comfortable dental experience to all her patients. She builds relationships with her patients based on trust and always acts to safeguard this trust.