Treating TMJ & TMD Centerville, OH

Centerville Ohio is home to many people from many walks of life, but they all have one thing in common – they all require professional dental care to maintain oral health. Good brushing and flossing habits can prevent many dental care issues, but in some cases, direct care by a dentist is required.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which is found in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), is one of the above-mentioned issues that cannot be treated by brushing and flossing.

What is the TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint is the ball and socket joint that helps rotate and hinge your lower jaw to the upper jawbone. This joint is extremely important because not only is it necessary for yawning, chewing and biting, it is also necessary for some speech. Can you imagine trying to say ‘apple’ clearly if you couldn’t open your mouth?

What is TMD?

Temporomandibular joint disorder is a medical mystery. There is no clear-cut cause for the disorder, but dental professionals do associate the following with the condition: grinding teeth, clenching the jaw (typically stress induced), damage to the soft disc in the joint, or the presence of arthritis in the joint.

The symptoms of TMD vary depending on the severity of the disorder. Some symptoms include:

• Pain/tenderness in the face near the joint, along the upper neck, or behind the ear when chewing, speaking, or yawning.
• Limited range of motion (opening and closing of the jaw)
• A jaw that locks in place when opening or closing the mouth
• Swelling in the side of the face
• Popping or cracking sounds when moving the jaw
• Uncomfortable bite – as if teeth aren’t meeting as they should when chewing
• Feeling as if the jaw and face are tired

What are the treatment options?

There are several methods for treating TMJ & TMD in Centerville OH. One of the most effective is pain management with medications. Dental professionals will also suggest alternating cold and hot compresses, using a night guard to prevent grinding and clenching teeth during sleep, and (in severe cases) corrective surgery.