TMJ Treatments in Plano, TX For Jaw Pain
Do you experience jaw joint clicking or locking, ear pain, persistent headaches, or sensitive teeth? You may be suffering from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease. TMJ disease, or TMD, is characterized by a dull aching pain in your jaw joint, jaw fatigue, inability to comfortably open your mouth, clicking and popping in your jaw, tooth sensitivity, headaches or migraines, and pain in your ears, neck, shoulders, or back.
Your TMJ is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull and allows your jaw to move around for chewing, eating, talking, and yawning. There are many reasons that may cause your TMJ to malfunction, including trauma, developmental defects, naturally occurring malocclusion (poor bite), and stress that makes you clench or grind your teeth (known as bruxism). Bruxism can even begin to fracture your teeth over time.
If you have had any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may find relief for your pain at 1st In Smiles with TMJ Treatments. Although TMD can be difficult to diagnose, Dr. Barfield and a TMJ specialist have the experience to examine and properly diagnose you, treat your symptoms safely, and monitor your progress in our Plano, TX office.
Night Guards or Occlusal Splints
One of the most effective TMJ treatments is splint therapy, or night guard therapy. Splint therapy has been used for decades to help your lower jaw function more properly by using an occlusal splint, an acrylic dental appliance that is custom made to fit over your teeth. This dental night guard keeps your upper and lower teeth from contacting each other while you sleep, which protects your teeth by preventing clenching and grinding. It also allows the lower jaw to return to a comfortable position. As your jaw begins to relax with the guard, you’ll quickly notice reduced muscle and jaw pain.
Advantages over Commercial Night Guards
Unlike store-bought dental night guards, which can wear down from your grinding, the night guard you receive from 1st In Smiles is high-quality acrylic that can provide you with TMJ relief for many years. In addition, our night guard or mouthguard is made to fit your teeth perfectly, which results in a safer, more comfortable, and more effective way to get rid of your tmj pain.
Getting the Best Results from Your Night Guard
To make sure you get the best results with your splint, wear it every night and also during the day if you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth from stress. When it’s not in your mouth, make sure you place it in water so that it doesn’t warp.
Food debris can get trapped in your night guard, so it’s important to keep it clean – both to keep your guard fresh and to prevent decay in your mouth. After thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth at night, you should also brush and rinse the inside and outside of the splint before putting it back in your mouth. If your mouth is susceptible to tooth decay, you can also place fluoride rinses or gels in your splint once a day and use a dental soak cleanser once a month.
Dr. Rick Barfield is a native of Richardson, Texas. He received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree from the Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry and has been providing trusted dental care in the Plano, TX area for more than 30 years.
1st In Smiles is dedicated to providing you with long-lasting and effective TMJ treatments. If you suspect your constant headaches, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, and muscle aches are from TMJ disorder, call our Plano, TX office for a consultation at 972-905-9266 or fill out our convenient online appointment form.
