TMJ & Bruxism Treatment
Find Relief From Jaw Pain And Dysfunction
Save Your Smile From The Nightly Grind
Popping and clicking in your jaw is fairly common and often harmless. Pain or dysfunction is not. If you’re feeling any pain in or around your jaw or you’re struggling to open or close your mouth, give us a call. The sooner, the better because if you put it off, your available treatment options become limited.
At Ferris Family Dentist, Dr. Williams has the technology and the expertise to treat jaw issues from regular clenching to TMJ disorder right here in Ferris. Visit us for gentle yet effective treatment and get back to enjoying life, with a fully functioning smile, free from pain.
What Is TMJ?
Your jaw joint is known as the Temporomandibular Joint. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction or Disorder, usually called TMJ or TMD for short, is when you experience pain in or limited function of your jaw and the surrounding muscles.
There are some misconceptions that people have about what does and does not count as TMJ, so let’s clear that up.
Symptoms That ARE Part Of TMJ
- Pain in or around your jaw, when you’re at rest of during function
- Painful popping or clicking when you move your jaw
- Limited range of jaw motion (struggling to chew properly or to open or close your mouth)
- Strange movement of your jaw
- Your jaw gets locked or stuck in place, and you are unable to open or close your mouth
- Chronic headaches or ear pain
Symptoms That Are NOT Part Of TMJ
If you have no pain or dysfunction in your jaw but you:
- Hear or feel clicking or popping (60% of people experience benign popping or clicking)
- Are able to chew without pain
- Are able to open or close your mouth properly
- Have abnormal changes in your jaw in an X-ray
The Types Of TMJ
- Problems due to the chewing muscles: spasms, aches, or a restricted range of motion in your jaw muscles
- Problems due to the joint itself: this usually involves your jaw getting locked closed (so you’re unable to open your mouth and you feel pain) or getting locked open (so you’re unable to close your mouth)
- Problems due to degeneration of the jaw bone: this is usually linked to a systemic disease like arthritis, lupus or Lyme disease
With a “closed lock”, you could get stuck with your mouth closed for hours, or it could suddenly get better. Getting this examined sooner rather than later is crucial, because if you leave it, you could limit the number and effectiveness of your available treatments.
An “open lock” is rare, but if you’re unable to close your mouth, this counts as an emergency, and you should get immediate help.
What Causes TMJ
There is some controversy on whether a malocclusion (aka a “bad bite) can cause TMJ, but there are other causes that are backed up by evidence including:
- Severe trauma or dental injury: this includes blunt trauma, motorcycle accidents, or other types of injuries to your jaw.
- Minor trauma or constant overworking: this includes bruxism (aka teeth grinding), persistent clenching, excessively or lengthy opening, radiation, or simply regularly chewing hard foods.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the technical term for when you persistently grind or clench your jaw. Often caused by stress or genetics, bruxism can be dangerous. In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can lead to TMJ. In most cases though, it results in your back teeth getting worn down to the point where you feel pain and experience permanent damage to the enamel.
Get Treatment For TMJ Or Bruxism, Before Its Too Late
Our compassionate and experienced dentist, Dr. Williams, and the rest of our Ferris dental team can help you detect, manage, and treat all forms of TMJ, grinding and clenching. Contact us to schedule a consultation and save your smile from pain today!