What Can the Dentist Do About My Clicking Jaw?
September 28, 2021
Do you ever experience a clicking or popping sound when you yawn or eat, often accompanied with painful sensations? This is a telltale sign of temporomandibular disorder or temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD/TMJ. If you think you suffer from this debilitating disorder, Peak Dentistry offers TMD/TMJ treatments that can help. Read on to learn more about them!
What Is TMD/TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint acts like a hinge connecting your jaw to the surrounding bones in your skull. Temporomandibular disorder happens when the joint becomes misaligned or isn’t functioning properly. Some of the most common symptoms of this disorder are waking up with a sore jaw, experiencing jaw pain when chewing or talking, changes in the way your teeth fit together, earaches, and a clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw.
Causes of TMD/TMJ
It isn’t always possible to pin down the reason individuals suffer from temporomandibular disorder. There are many different things that might cause the joint to malfunction including physical trauma, arthritis, grinding or clenching your teeth due to stress, autoimmune disorders, braces, structural issues from birth, and excessive gum chewing. Stress, poor posture, and lack of sleep are also potential causes of TMD/TMJ.
Diagnosing TMD/TMJ
If you think you might have TMD/TMJ, the Ramellini doctors at Peak Dentistry will carefully examine your jaw. A TMD/TMJ examination includes listening to the sound your jaw makes, observing the range of motion of your jaw, and pressing around the area to locate sensitive areas.
TMD/TMJ Treatment
As for treatment, there are a variety of jaw stretches and massages you can do at home to help improve your jaw strength and mitigate the pain. Changes in diet, especially avoiding sticky or hard foods, can also help your jaw mobility. Other treatments include botox injections, acupuncture and wearing a mouthguard. For severe cases, surgery and/or medication might be recommended.
Affordable TMD/TMJ Treatment in Clyde, NC
If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort in your jaw that’s preventing you from chewing or talking with ease, book a TMD/TMJ consultation at our dental office! Peak Dentistry offers affordable, holistic dentistry to benefit not only your oral health, but your overall health as well. We look forward to seeing you!
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I don’t normally take the time to write reviews, but Peak Dentistry deserves recognition. My husband and I have been so fortunate to be a part of this practice for 10 years driving 2-1/2 hours each way to make our appointments. Drs. Joe and Gabrielle Ramellini, as well as their staff, have provided a level of dental care that reflects their expertise in the work they do that sets them apart as very unique and special. We highly recommend Peak Dentistry to anyone who is interested in quality care you can trust with a personal touch.
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New patient visit. Office was beautiful, the treatment was 1st rate in every sense, and I was so impressed with all the latest technology.
The entire staff at Peak Dentistry is amazing, but I would like to highlight my hygienist, Missy, in particular. I went in for a regular teeth cleaning and didn't necessarily expect to be "wowed" but Missy took such care and attention to detail that I walked out of there with the pearliest whites I have ever had. Thank you for giving me such a beautiful white smile, Missy!