Take Charge of Your Comfort and Oral Health with TMJ Pain Treatment
TMJ pain can ruin your life, making everyday activities like talking and eating a source of pain. Living with constant jaw pain and headaches also affects your mood, focus, and sleep. The good news? You can find TMJ pain relief at Blunn Creek Family Dentistry in Austin, Texas. Dr. Kunjumary “Mary” Kolathu uses customized oral appliances to manage pain and protect your smile. Schedule your appointment today, and get on the path to a happier, healthier smile.
What is TMJ pain?
Everyone has temporomandibular joints (TMJs) on both sides of the face, just in front of the ears. TMJs are flexible joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull, allowing the mouth to open and close for eating, yawning, speaking, etc. As you can imagine, these joints undergo a lot of use, but you rarely notice their presence until something goes wrong.
Like other joints in the body, TMJs can be injured, strained, or misaligned, leading to a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD causes several unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Tension headaches
- Jaw popping and clicking
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Ear pain or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Locked jaws or difficulties opening the jaws
- Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck, and upper back
TMJ disorders may develop naturally because of an improper bite or cartilage wear in the joints. An injury, infection, or prolonged teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) can also aggravate TMD. No matter how it happens, TMJ pain can diminish your quality of life and requires prompt treatment.
How is TMJ pain diagnosed?
TMJ diagnosis can be challenging because its symptoms often overlap with other conditions like migraines, sinus infections, and ear problems. Jaw pain, headaches, and ear discomfort can easily be mistaken for something else.
At our office, Dr. Mary diagnoses TMJ pain through a careful and often detailed evaluation of your symptoms, jaw function, and medical history. She will assess how your jaw moves and check for tenderness or unusual sounds in the joints. She may use imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, to obtain a clearer picture of the TMJs and nearby structures.
A thorough, multidisciplinary approach helps rule out other causes and pinpoint TMJ as the source of the discomfort. Otherwise, misdiagnosis may lead to a cycle of never-ending treatments that don’t work.
How do you treat TMJ pain?
When you visit our office, we won’t dismiss or brush your TMJ pain as “it’s just in your head.” TMJ disorder is a real condition that affects about 5%-12% of Americans. Although it’s common, it doesn’t mean you learn to live with pain.
Dr. Mary addresses TMJ pain with a custom nightguard. This retainer-like appliance stabilizes your jaw, relieves symptoms, and protects your teeth from bruxism damage. Many patients love oral appliance therapy because it’s non-surgical, easy to use, and significantly improves quality of life.
Where can I find a TMJ dentist near Austin, TX?
Don’t let persistent jaw pain and headaches take control of your life. Get the relief you need to thrive with TMJ pain treatment at Blunn Creek Family Dentistry. Call (512) 788-9282 and schedule your consultation with Dr. Mary and her team. We have helped countless patients find relief from TMJ pain, and can’t wait to help you.
