Our dentist, Dr. Jorge Bastidas, would like to offer hope for your TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. This joint hinges your jawbone to the rest of your skull, and these complex joints work in synergy with a series of ligaments and muscles to enable you to open your mouth, chew and grind food, as well as speak. Each sophisticated ball and socket joint also include a small disk of cartilage to allow the slip needed to grind food.
TMJ disorder is used to describe symptoms such as a persistent dull ache in front of your ears or near your temples. It could also be connected with pain or discomfort when opening and closing your mouth, biting down or chewing.
Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can put incredible amounts of tension on jaw muscles and ligaments. This can cause inflammation in the joints and significantly increase your chances of developing TMJ disorder. Other potential causes could also include a past dislocation in one or both joints, arthritis, or general inflammation issues.
Our dentist, Dr. Jorge Bastidas, uses custom-fitted night guards to protect teeth from the effects of bruxism. The night guard conforms comfortably to your mouth and allows enough slip when grinding your teeth. This helps prevent locked muscles and it protects the biting surfaces of your teeth.
In addition to wearing a nightguard to help with TMJ, Dr. may also recommend eating softer foods, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and using heat packs to relax muscle tension, as needed.
If you have been struggling with TMJ disorder symptoms in Paterson, New Jersey, please call Comfort Dental Care at 973-742-2610 to explore your treatment options. We are eager to help you experience relief for your TMJ symptoms!