Jaw pain is a prevalent dental problem. Restorative dentistry with Dr. Brenda Paulen can fix and help your teeth stay healthy and fully functioning. Examples of restorative dentistry are dental fillings, implants, dentures, and crowns.
Sources of Jaw Pain
Many people create tension in their jaw under stressful circumstances. Teeth grinding and clenching can also cause tension, wear down the jawbone and cause damage to teeth over time. Many patients are unaware that this is occurring until Dr. Paulen notices the common signs such as worn teeth or they begin to experience discomfort.
Other sources of jaw pain can include missing teeth, damaged teeth, or misaligned teeth. Any dental issues that interfere with normal bite function during daily tasks can cause jaw pain. Often, it may be an indication that the patient has a TMJ disorder.
What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, commonly known as TMJ or TMD, often starts with an Occlusal Imbalance. Understanding the signs and symptoms can help the patient find appropriate treatment and alleviate painful symptoms. Dr. Paulen has the training and experience to diagnose a TMJ disorder and offer appropriate treatment to improve dental health and resolve symptoms.
Symptoms of TMJ
There are many symptoms to look out for. TMJ often causes severe pain and discomfort. It can be temporary or last many years. It might affect one or both sides of the mouth., More women than men have TMJ, and it’s most common among people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Common symptoms of TMJ are pain or tenderness in your jaw joints, around the ears when you speak or chew, getting “stuck” or “locked” in an open or closed-mouth position.
Treating TMJ and its symptoms
TMJ is often successfully treated with skilled physical therapy. Stretching both the joint capsule and surrounding muscles facilitates jaw range of motion, allowing a return to normal chewing and talking.
Slight modifications to daily activities and conscious awareness of the jaw and neck position produce long-term pain relief. Effective treatment may be as simple as an “occlusal adjustment,” a restorative procedure to slightly recontour one or more teeth to adjust the bite’s balance.
In many cases, Dr. Paulen may recommend the use of a muscle deprogrammer or centric relation splint. This specially fabricated removable dental device can be worn at your leisure to help relax and relieve those nerves and muscles, thereby avoiding a possible headache. Rehabilitation may be more involved, incorporating orthodontic treatment to correct malocclusion or dental restorations for worn, damaged, or missing teeth. The goal of treatment is to not only relieve symptoms that can affect daily life but to restore comfort, balance, and longevity to the bite and dental health.
Schedule A Dental Consultation in Atlanta
Have you found yourself struggling with stress or any of these symptoms? Call and schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Paulen in our Sandy Springs dental office so we can help relieve symptoms and improve your oral health.