Jaw pain is not normal.
If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.
- Headaches
- Earaches, tenderness around the ear
- Face or jaw pain and tenderness
- Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth
What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.
Treatment and Relief
Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.
Alternative Treatment Options
If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trish Majszak
I think this office is one of the nicest office I have been too. They were not only engaged with the patient, they also treated each other graciously. I was impressed with the dentist too. He was very attentive to my needs. Thank you!
Tara Montoya
Hans D Smith DMD and his staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. They were on time with our appointments. The TV’s on the ceilings made it super cool for my kids to get their cleanings done. The XRays that are taken are shared with you on a 40 inch TV screen so you can clearly see what treatments, fillings, wisdom teeth etc. that the you may need done. What I really appreciated is that prior to any treatment including fluoride the staff checks with your insurance and if it’s not covered they disclose the cost so you can decide if you want i
Gabrielle Kirsch
The staff is so amazing. They really feel like they love their jobs. Everyone was so polite and things were done in a timely matter. I've never had a dentist actually give me faith that I could someday have a smile that I could be proud of. It was wonderful to have someone who cares. Their prices are so amazing and I can't recommend them enough. Seriously exceptional care!
