TMJ Therapy—Tulsa, OK

Does your jaw feel sore or stiff all the time? Is it constantly popping and clicking whenever you open or close your mouth? Do you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, and other doctors haven’t been able to figure out why? All of these symptoms could actually be due to a temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are the small hinges located in front of your ears that allow your lower jaw to move in all directions. Problems in this area can cause the symptoms we just touched on and many more, but fortunately, at Glisten Dental, we’re able to offer solutions that can provide permanent relief.

What is TMJ Disorder?

A TMJ Disorder refers to any problem stemming from a TMJ that is not functioning properly. The most common symptoms include:

• Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
• Jaw pain whether it is open or closed
• Consistent popping and clicking sounds when moving the jaw
• Swelling of the jaw joints
• Frequent headaches or migraines

What Causes TMJ Disorder?

A TMD can develop for a variety of reasons, but in most cases, it tends to be one of the following:

• Unconscious teeth grinding during sleep is straining the muscles near the TMJ
• A misaligned bite is placing undue stress on the joint
• Tooth loss has thrown off the balance of the bite
• An injury to the face has disrupted how the joint is supposed to function
• A dental restoration or orthodontic treatment has misaligned the bite
• Arthritis in the jaw joint
• The cartilage in the joint has worn down, removing the padding from between the bones

TMJ Treatment

When a patient comes to see us showing any of the symptoms we touched on above, our first goal is to figure out what is exactly causing the problem. To do this, we’ll test the mobility of the jaw as well as take X-rays of the joint. If we determine that an issue with the teeth is causing the bite to be unbalanced and strain the TMJ, we’ll correct it, whether this involves replacing an old restoration, restoring missing teeth, or slightly reshaping natural teeth to help the upper and lower rows come together properly. Once we have the joint working how it should, any pain should go away on its own.

Botox Treatment for TMD

Bruxism, or unconscious teeth grinding during sleep, forces the muscles of the jaw to overwork during the night, which leads to tension and pain in the morning. A nightguard is a type of oral appliance a patient can wear to bed to keep their teeth protected from this, but we can also inject Botox into the spasming jaw muscles to help them instantly relax. This not only provides immediate pain relief, but it can also prevent the grinding from occurring in the first place, helping preserve a patient’s teeth.

Come See Us for TMJ Therapy in Tulsa

If you’ve already visited multiple doctors about your constant jaw and head pain and haven’t seen results, we invite you to come see us at Glisten Dental. Our team has already helped countless patients overcome these types of problems using conservative, proven treatments, and TMJ Therapy could be exactly the solution you’ve been looking for. To schedule an appointment and start feeling better as soon as possible, contact us today.