Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder is a condition that can affect a person’s daily comfort, oral health, and overall quality of life. If you live in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, there are TMJ solutions to give you a pain-free life! At Charlotte Progressive Dentistry, our dentists, Dr. Gregory Camp and Dr. Susana Junco, offer various solutions to treat TMJ and give their patients a chance at a life free of jaw pain. It is essential to understand what TMJ is, the treatment options we offer at our office, and the advantages you can expect from TMJ treatment.
What is TMJ?
Before we dive into the benefits of finding a TMJ solution and treating your TMJ, we must first understand what TMJ is. The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is one of the most active joints in the body, matched only by the knees and hips. It is essential for the simplest tasks, underlining the significance of keeping this joint healthy. When the TMJ faces problems, it can manifest as a range of symptoms denoting TMJ disorder (TMD). These include:
- Frequent jaw pain or tenderness
- Aching pain around the ear
- Difficulty chewing or an uncomfortable bite
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the joint when eating food like a hamburger or even kissing your significant other
- Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
- Muscle soreness when chewing or waking up
Given the diversity of these signs, it’s essential to understand the causes of TMJ issues and the need for early detection and treatment.
Treatment Options for TMJ at Charlotte Progressive Dentistry
At our office, Dr. Susana Junco and Dr. Gregory Camp focus on using conservative treatment first, seeking methods that avoid more invasive procedures unless necessary. Treatments for TMJ include:
Non-Invasive Approaches
Non-invasive treatment options include lifestyle changes, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and physical interventions before progressing to more intrusive measures.
- Lifestyle Changes: This includes changes to diet, habits, and posture, as well as stress management techniques.
- Physical Therapy: Tailored exercises can help strengthen and stretch the jaw muscles, improving jaw function.
- Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation.
- Stress Management: Techniques like biofeedback can help in controlling muscle tension and thus reduce the instances of jaw clenching.
Dental Interventions
When non-invasive methods fail to provide relief, dental interventions can be the next step in managing TMD. TMJ solutions we offer at our office in the Charlotte area include:
- Orthotic Devices: Splints and mouthguards can help reposition the jaw and support the joint to reduce pain caused by clenching and bruxism.
- PRF Injections: Platelet Rich Fibrin injections can stimulate healing in the joint.
- Trigger Point Injections: These can help manage pain by injecting anesthetics into the muscles of the face and jaw.
- Braces: In some cases, orthodontic treatments may be recommended to correct misalignment issues.
Before receiving any treatment, you will undergo a mandatory consultation, where we will examine your teeth and get a CBCT scan. After the consultation, we can move on to treatment options, where we will form a plan to help heal the joint and relieve your pain fully. We typically will perform more than one procedure to help relieve TMJ symptoms.
Surgical Options
Surgery is always a last resort, reserved for cases of severe TMJ where all other methods of treatment have been exhausted without success. If no other options work to relieve your symptoms, we will send in a referral to an oral surgeon and have you get an MRI.
The Advantages of TMJ Treatment
Now that we have gone over what you need to know about TMJ and the solutions we offer let us dive into the world of benefits that TMJ treatment provides you!
Improved Pain Management
One of the most immediate benefits of treating TMJ is the reduction in pain. Patients with TMJ disorder often experience significant jaw pain, headaches, and facial discomfort. By addressing the root cause, whether through dental interventions like orthodontic treatment or habit changes like stress management techniques, the severity and frequency of these painful episodes can be lessened.
- Medication Interventions: Medications can help alleviate the pain associated with TMJ disorders. Over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatories are a few ways to manage mild to moderate cases. A healthcare professional may prescribe more robust pain management strategies in severe instances.
- Lifestyle Adjustments: Dr. Susana Junco or Dr. Gregory Camp may recommend lifestyle changes that can reduce TMJ pain, such as learning relaxation techniques to manage stress, using cold or hot compresses, or modifying diets to include softer foods that require less chewing.
Enhanced Oral Health
TMJ treatment can also influence a patient’s oral health in several ways. Patients who grind their teeth may experience increased tooth wear and damage, which can lead to a need for costly restorative dental procedures.
- Alleviating Teeth Grinding: Prolonged teeth grinding, or bruxism, can indicate underlying TMJ issues. Dental interventions, such as custom mouthpieces, can prevent further tooth damage by redistributing the bite forces evenly.
- Correcting Dental Alignment: In some cases, we may address TMJ disorders with orthodontic treatment, which not only relieves TMJ pain but also improves dental alignment, making oral hygiene practices more effective and reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Dr. Junco will typically encourage using braces to avoid future pain for patients following treatment with braces after undergoing PRF injections.
Better Quality of Life
TMJ can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. The disorder can affect eating habits, sleep patterns, and overall well-being, leading to a diminished lifestyle.
- Improved Eating Habits: TMJ pain can make eating difficult and uncomfortable. No one enjoys hearing their jaw click and pop when they try to eat. By treating the disorder, patients can return to healthier eating habits and maintain a balanced diet, vital for overall health.
- Better Sleep Quality: Many TMJ sufferers experience sleep disturbances due to pain and discomfort. One of the many symptoms of TMJ includes jaw pain when waking up, a symptom that may occur due to a sleep disorder. Fortunately, with the help of Dr. Junco, you can get the necessary treatment to relieve the pain and allow you to sleep better throughout the night. TMJ treatment can help improve sleep by reducing the exacerbating factors and promoting a better night’s rest.
Prevention of Secondary Issues
TMJ disorders can lead to secondary issues such as neck pain, earaches, and muscle tension. By addressing TMJ, patients can prevent these associated problems and the need for multiple treatment modalities.
- Minimizing Muscle Tension: A common symptom of TMJ is muscle tension in the face and neck. Dental treatment can help relax these muscles, reducing the stress and the associated discomfort.
- Reducing the Risk of Ear Issues: TMJ problems can manifest as ear pain and affect hearing. Treating TMJ can alleviate these symptoms by relieving pressure on the ear structures.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Early intervention for TMJ can save patients money in the long run by preventing the need for more extensive and expensive treatments. Dental restorations and surgeries that may be required for advanced TMJ cases, patients can avoid with timely treatment.
- Avoiding Expensive Surgeries: No one enjoys the idea of needing surgery. However, in severe cases where TMJ disorders have led to joint damage, surgeries like arthrocentesis or arthroscopy may be necessary. Fortunately, by treating TMJ symptoms early, you can avoid the potential need for surgery.
- Reducing the Need for Extensive Restorations: Chronic TMJ can lead to tooth and jaw damage that requires expensive restorations such as crowns or bridges. Preventing this damage through TMJ treatment means avoiding additional dental expenses.
TMJ Solutions in Charlotte, NC
TMJ can be a frustrating and life-altering disorder, but with an array of treatment options, you can find a solution that best works for you and relieves your pain. With the help of Dr. Susana Junco and Dr. Gregory Camp, you can expect personalized care, innovative techniques, and a compassionate approach to ensure that every patient receives tailored treatments to address TMJ concerns effectively. Experience the transformative benefits of their expertise, where pain relief and enhanced jaw function pave the way for a brighter, more comfortable smile. Trust in Charlotte Progressive Dentistry to guide you towards a future free from TMJ discomfort, where your well-being is their priority, and your smile radiates with confidence.
If you are experiencing symptoms of TMJ, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Junco today to see if there’s a solution to help you!