Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your lower jaw to your temples and are responsible for all of your jaw’s movements and clenching. LA Dentists Group in Pasadena and Glendale, California, provide treatment for TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) to give you relief from bite problems, jaw pain, and headaches. To find out if you can benefit from treatment for TMD and TMJ problems, call LA Dentists Group or request an appointment online today.

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What are TMD and TMJ?

Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) work together to help you open and close your mouth. They’re located near your temples on either side of your face and connect your lower jawbone to the rest of your head.

The alignment of these joints impacts your bite, so it’s important for them to stay in alignment and avoid damage.

When one or both of these joints are damaged or dysfunctional, temporomandibular joint disorder or dysfunction (TMD) is a common result. TMD can affect the use of your jaw and often comes from nighttime or stress-related teeth grinding.

You might also develop TMD due to trauma or injuries of your TMJs, a naturally misaligned bite, or joint dislocation.

What are some signs of TMD and other TMJ issues?

TMD has distinctive symptoms that can affect one or both of your TMJs. If you grind your teeth for a prolonged period or experience a jaw injury, the symptoms that arise afterward might include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Neck aches
  • Ear ringing
  • Earaches
  • Trouble chewing
  • Jaw locking
  • Jaw grating
  • Jaw popping
  • Inability to open your mouth widely

The team asks for details about your TMJ symptoms and might use X-ray imaging to examine the joints for damage. They can then recommend an appropriate care plan to restore the function of your temporomandibular joints and prevent new damage.

What are my treatment options for TMD and TMJ?

Several dental treatments are available for TMD, and the team at LA Dentists Group routinely works with other professionals like chiropractors to give you the best possible treatment outcome. Your treatment options include:

Botox injections

Botox® injections treat TMD by relaxing the muscles responsible for moving and clenching your jaw.

Oral appliance therapy

Oral appliance therapy is a treatment you can use at night to control nighttime teeth grinding, which damages your TMJ joints.

Correcting your bite

LA Dentists Group might want to correct your bite for long-term TMJ relief. They use treatments like Invisalign®, braces, crowns, and bridges to help align and balance your bite.

If you have pain around your jaw and temples, it’s time to explore treatments for TMD and TMJ problems. Call LA Dentists Group or request an evaluation online today.