TMJ Treatment
Covington, WA
TMJ Treatment provided by Kyle S. Blair, DDS
in Covington, WA at Covington Family Dental
 There are few maladies that can be as bothersome as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. The TMJ is the complex joint that allows your jaw to move up, down, side to side, and back and forth. When the TMJ is working well, and everything is normal you probably don’t notice it. When it starts to act up for whatever reason, it can become a massive headache both literally and figuratively. If you experience symptoms like pain or fatigue in your jaw or hear clicking when you move your jaw about, there is a good chance you could benefit from TMJ treatment.
Causes of TMJ Fatigue
If you have never experienced TMJ fatigue or pain it can be a hard thing to relate to. If you have or currently do experience TMJ issues you probably remember the days before the issues fondly. TMJ issues can be persistent and consuming, and many people report not being able to stop focusing on their jaw. TMJ problems can manifest as a feeling of your teeth not fitting together correctly - as a result, there is a constant back and forth where you try to find the right spot for it to rest. So what is it that can cause this issue?
There are a few common causes of TMJ fatigue. One of the most common causes is nighttime bruxism, also known as teeth grinding. Many people grind their teeth at night without even knowing it. If you wake with a sore jaw or tooth sensitivity, there is a good chance that you grind your teeth at night. Teeth grinding can cause a wide array of issues aside from just TMJ fatigue. Tooth grinding is commonly the cause of:
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Cracked teeth |
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Chipped teeth |
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Excessively worn teeth |
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Loosening of teeth |
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Loss of teeth |
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Damaged dental restorations (crowns, fillings, etc.) |
Other common causes of TMJ fatigue are:
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Physical trauma to the jaw, head, or neck |
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Changes in the way your bite fits together |
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Various maladies of the mouth |
How We Treat Any TMJ Disorder
It’s important to note that the method that we use to treat TMJ issues is dependent upon what we determine the cause to be. One of the most common solutions to TMJ pain is with night guards. When you suffer from nighttime bruxism, you can’t control the impulse to grind your teeth – you are asleep. The solution is to fit you with a hardened tooth guard that will prevent you from being able to grind your teeth together.
If the cause of your TMJ fatigue is jaw clenching or grinding during the day, we can offer various self-care methods that you can use to try and remedy the issue. Often tooth clenching is brought on by anxiety or stress and relaxation/stress management techniques can help you to fight the habit.
There are a variety of treatment options that we can prescribe, but in the meantime we can also help with pain management. Sometimes a simple analgesic is all that is required to give you some relief.
Please call us today at to schedule your appointment. |
