TMJ – Temporomandibular joint disorder

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to the side of your head. When it works well, it enables you to talk, chew and yawn. However, if the joint is not aligned correctly, you may suffer from the chronic headaches, jaw pain, teeth grinding or other symptoms of TMJ.

TMJ Symptoms, Treatment and Relief

For people with TMJ dysfunction, problems with the joint and muscles around it may cause:

  Pain that travels through the face, jaw or neck

  Stiff jaw muscles

  Limited movement or locking of the jaw

  Painful clicking or popping in the jaw

  A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together

Jaw pain may go away with little or no treatment. Treatment may include simple things you can do yourself, such as eating soft foods or applying ice packs. Traditional treatments include pain medicines or devices to insert in your mouth, or even surgery.

For TMJ pain that is not relieved by these simple treatments, Dr. Martin will devise a treatment plan just for you. He can X-ray you to diagnose the exact cause of the pain, and then use cold laser to accelerate the healing and ease the pain. He can even use the cold laser on your acupressure points to relieve the physical and emotional discomfort caused by stress. Dr. Martin also uses customized mouthpieces to keep your jaw in alignment and prevent the return of TMJ symptoms. 

 

For more information please call us at (804) 417-7203 to make an appointment, or click here to request an appointment online.