If you regularly experience headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, or ringing in your ears, your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may not be functioning correctly. Your TMJ is the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull on each side. You use it every time you yawn, chew your food, and talk, so when it isn’t working as it should, it’s a problem.
Seeking treatment from an experienced prosthodontist is the best way to treat a TMJ disorder and restore your oral health and well-being. So, what role does a prosthodontist play in TMJ disorders?
What Is a Prosthodontist?
It’s important to understand that a prosthodontist is a specialist in making dental prosthetics. This includes artificial teeth of all kinds, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures. However, they are also experts at treating temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders.
A prosthodontist must complete three additional years of rigorous training after becoming a dentist. This makes them the best choice to help with your TMJ disorder. Through proper diagnosis and treatment with various therapies, including oral appliance therapy, you can relieve your symptoms and avoid damage to your teeth.
What Causes TMJ Disorders?
Here’s what can cause your TMJ to become inflamed or damaged:
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Stress
- Teeth misalignment
- Trauma
- Developmental defects
Treatment Options from Your Mt. Pleasant Prosthodontist
If you have symptoms of a TMJ disorder, we encourage you to call our dental office and schedule an assessment. Our prosthodontist will carefully examine your teeth and gums and work with you to correct your symptoms and relieve your pain.
Then, we can form a treatment plan that may involve any combination of the following:
- Oral appliance therapy
- Physical therapy
- Stress management
- Over-the-counter medications
- Ice packs
Need Relief from a TMJ Disorder in Mt. Pleasant, SC?
When you are ready to explore your treatment options regarding your TMJ issues, the dental team at Carolina Center for Restorative Dentistry is here to assist you! We can create a treatment plan to help relieve your symptoms and get you back to enjoying life. You can reach our dental office at (843) 849-9044.
We look forward to hearing from you.