TMJ Treatment Owasso

What is TMJ Disorder?

TMJ is an acronym that stands for “temporomandibular joint.” These are the joints that connect your jaw to your skull, and they’re responsible for a wide range of movements. You rely on smooth-functioning TMJs for normal daily actions like chewing, speaking, yawning, and laughing. So, when you begin suffering from TMJ pain in Owasso, it can severely impact your life.

If you are experiencing pain or some kind of malfunction with your TMJ, then you may have a condition called TMD: temporomandibular joint disorder. TMD may present with many uncomfortable symptoms that far surpass chronic jaw pain.

Common Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

You don’t want to ignore your TMJ disorder for too long, so it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms associated with it. Below are some common warning signs that can point to TMJ problems; we encourage you to reach out to our team immediately if any of these symptoms sound familiar:

• Lockjaw – when your jaw locks in an open position
• Migraines, headaches, and dull thumping head pain
• Pain in the neck and shoulders
• Earaches and ringing in the ears
• Clicking and popping of the jaw joints
• Difficulty eating or speaking
• Fatigue while chewing
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism

Why is It so Important to Treat TMJ Disorder?

Many people suffer from TMJ pain for years before discovering something can be done about it. So naturally, one of the reasons to seek medical attention from your Owasso dentist is that you don’t have to live in pain. You can regain your quality of life with the right treatment.

But there are other reasons why you need to seek treatment when you have TMJ disorder. The pain you feel is telling you that something isn’t right. Sometimes, your pain may go away when your situation changes. For example, in a temporary situation of high stress, your teeth grinding may go away after the situation passes. You may also experience jaw pain from body aches due to an illness, but that, too, will often go away with time.

However, when your check engine light stays on consistently, you know something is wrong, and without maintenance, the problem will worsen. The same is true for TMJ disorder. If your pain persists for 10 days without a reasonable explanation, seek TMJ treatment in Owasso. Without treatment, you could experience the following:

• Permanent nerve pain
• Permanent hearing loss
• Chronic pain disorder
• Vertigo
• Frequent headaches and migraines
• Depression and anxiety
  

Dr. Lim’s Unique TMJ Treatment Approach

There is no recognized dental specialty for TMJ treatment, so no dentist can legally be labeled a “TMJ specialist” or “TMJ dentist.” However, effectively treating TMJ disorder requires advanced training beyond what is offered in the basic dental school curriculum. Dr. Lim is one of only 500 fellows of the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies, where he received advanced training in neuromuscular dentistry.

Since 2003, Dr. Lim has treated many patients from all corners of the country. They have chosen to visit Dr. Lim for help with managing migraine pain, neck pain, and TMJ pain after hearing about how he has successfully helped others. Even other medical professionals have referred their own patients to Dr. Lim because of his reputation for successfully treating TMJ pain. Dr. Lim’s extensive experience and passion for TMJ treatment and providing much-needed relief for his patients make him an outstanding choice for this type of care. He is ready to alleviate your jaw pain and other TMJ symptoms with his effective holistic approach.

Our TMJ Treatment Options

Our TMJ dentist in Owasso will begin by carefully listening to you as you describe your TMJ issue. We will then conduct non-invasive and pain-free tests on your TMJ with a CT scanner and an EMG (electromyography) device. After gently examining your jaw to explore its range of motion, we will determine any other factors in your bite that may be contributing to your discomfort.

At Life Smiles of Owasso, we aim to treat TMJ disorder without medication, as Dr. Lim is a whole-health dentist. We will first recommend some medication-free techniques to help you soothe and manage your TMJ pain, and then we will discuss with you some potential solutions to address the underlying cause of your pain. Treatment could be as simple as wearing a special appliance or could involve extensive work, such as a full mouth reconstruction to balance out your bite. Learn more about these options below.

NEUROMUSCULAR ORTHOTICS

A neuromuscular orthotic can be used to help stabilize the jaw, keeping it in a position where the jaw joints and the muscles around them aren’t exposed to as much strain. They are typically worn for about 90 days to allow the muscles, jaw joint, nerves, head, and neck to heal. Once this process is complete, we will proceed to more in-depth care such as orthodontics, full mouth reconstruction, or a long-term orthotic.

TENS Machine Treatment

TENS is short for “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.” This type of treatment uses low-voltage electrical currents to help address your pain. The currents can stop pain signals from being sent to the brain. Furthermore, a TENS machine treatment can encourage the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers.

Equilibration/ Occlusal Adjustments

If your TMJ disorder is due to problems with the alignment of your bite, equilibration may be suggested. In some cases, we will only need to make a few minor adjustments to your teeth; in other situations, a full mouth reconstruction might be required. It all depends on the specifics of your disorder, which is why a detailed examination of your mouth and jaw is so important.

TMJ FAQs