What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint attaches your jaw to your skull. This joint operates somewhat like a hinge. Much like the hinge on a door, you can damage the joint due to trauma or wear over time. Therefore, any dislocation of this joint results in temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ).
If you have TMJ, you may experience symptoms from slight discomfort to sharp pain. Additionally, TMJ can cause lockjaw in certain cases. Whatever your symptoms, you’ll want to get treatment to avoid larger issues.
At Dr. Richard Crosby General & Cosmetic Dentistry, we use advanced technology to detect and treat TMJ. First, we will assess your smile using our Myotronics system. The Myotronics K7 Evaluation System helps us evaluate your smile by detecting small noises and movements in your jaw. Using this system, we can understand if your jaw is hinging correctly or not.
Then, we will use TENS technology to relax your muscles. Depending on your diagnosis, Dr. Crosby will recommend either TMJ therapy or neuromuscular orthodontics. In some cases, we will recommend both therapy and orthodontics to improve your jaw function.
Symptoms of TMJ
Our patients often report different symptoms if they have TMJ. However, having one or multiple symptoms is how we detect the disorder. If you have one or more of the following symptoms, seek help from Dr. Crosby to find a solution.
- Headaches
- Popping or clicking sounds
- Pain in the jaw, face, neck, or shoulders
- Locking of your jaw, either in the open or closed position
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding
If you experience one or more symptoms of TMJ, speak to your dentist. Over time, symptoms can develop and worsen. Especially with teeth grinding, you may see worn-down teeth over time, leading to more cavities.
Instead of just dealing with the pain, working with Dr. Crosby is simple and easy. With gentle, holistic treatment methods, we can relieve your symptoms and discomfort.
Holistic TMJ Treatment
Our team has a strong focus on you and your smile. When we help you come to a solution, we treat you holistically. Therefore, when we treat TMJ, we go to the root of your problem instead of skimming the surface. Our dental team uses a combination of treatments to relieve your TMJ symptoms and get you back to normal life.
Neuromuscular TMJ Treatment
With neuromuscular treatment, we realign your bite to reverse the symptoms of TMJ. Our dental team will focus on both the hard and soft tissues in your smile to ensure a comfortable new bite. When we align and correct your jaw, it will begin to rest comfortably to provide relief.
TMJ Therapy
At Dr. Richard Crosby General & Cosmetic Dentistry, we use gentle, non-invasive therapy to guide your jaw back into place. In turn, the therapy will release stress on your joints and muscles.
Additionally, we use the help of TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) technology to relax your jaw. TENS vibrates your jaw to allow for the release of stress, which allows us to then serve your smile better. Also, TENS can be a pain reliever in itself by massaging your muscles.
Your Dental Professional for TMJ Treatment in Anchorage
If you experience jaw, neck, or head pain, then you need to get a TMJ assessment. After your diagnosis and treatment, your entire life will improve as a result of alleviated symptoms.
To schedule your consultation with Dr. Crosby, call our office at (907) 277-1098.
