Jaw Joint Treatment in Keighley
Do you wake with dull pain in the jaws or have persistent headaches?
Do you find it difficult to chew hard foods, open your mouth too wide or perhaps hear a click when doing so?
These could be the early signs of a jaw joint issue, also known as a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. TMJ disorders are a common concern for many people today.
Jaw Joint Treatments in Keighley at Taylored Dental Care offer easy and comfortable ways to relieve discomfort and restore normal jaw function.
What is a jaw joint treatment?
Jaw joint treatment, or Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) treatment, addresses disorders affecting the jaw joint and muscles controlling jaw movement called TMJ disorders.
The benefits of jaw joint treatment
Investing in jaw joint treatment doesn’t just reduce the pain; it makes life in general easy. Let us explain how:
Ability chew
Lesser headaches
Lesser headaches and muscle tension.
Jaw functions
You can perform all jaw functions like laughing, eating hard foods, yawning, etc.
Grinding or clenching
If grinding or clenching has been making you feel groggy every morning, you can now get a better night’s sleep.
What causes TMJ disorders?
The temporomandibular joint is a complex structure connecting your lower jawbone to the upper jaw. It allows for essential functions like chewing, speaking, and yawning. TMJ disorders can stem from various causes, including teeth grinding at night (bruxism), arthritis, injury, stress-related jaw clenching, ill-fitted dentures, crowns and bridges or age-related issues.
When this joint is strained or misaligned, it can lead to TMJ disorders, which cause a combination of these symptoms:
- Jaw pain or tenderness.
- Clicking or popping sounds near the ears.
- Difficulty in opening the mouth completely, chewing hard foods, etc.
- Frequent headaches or earaches.
- Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders.
The importance of early intervention
Untreated TMJ disorders can escalate, leading to chronic pain and difficulty performing everyday tasks like eating, speaking and swallowing. It increases the chances of jaw stiffness or locked jaws. Addressing the problem early helps avoid long-term complications and improve your quality of life
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of a TMJ disorder?
The common signs include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw, headaches, and difficulty opening or closing your mouth. If you experience these symptoms, it’s best to consult a dentist for a thorough evaluation.
How long does jaw joint treatment take?
The duration of jaw joint treatment varies depending on the severity of your condition and the treatment plan. Non-invasive options like mouthguards often provide relief within weeks, while complex cases may take longer to resolve.
Is jaw joint treatment painful?
We design our jaw joint treatments to minimise discomfort. In general, non-invasive methods are painless, and for advanced procedures, we fully support you with numbing and sedation techniques.
Assessment
A detailed consultation is necessary. We use advanced diagnostic techniques like 3D imaging…
Non-Invasive Jaw Joint Treatments
In many cases, TMJ disorders can be managed effectively with non-invasive treatments, such as:
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- Custom-made splints or mouthguards: These are comfortable soft protective covers for the teeth designed to reduce teeth grinding, and clenching and relieve pressure on the jaw joint.
- Physiotherapy and exercises: Specific jaw exercises can help strengthen muscles and improve joint function.
- Stress management: Since stress often contributes to clenching, we may recommend relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, and massages.
Advanced interventions
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- Bite adjustment: Correcting misaligned teeth can relieve jaw strain and improve overall function.
- Medicines: Medicines for inflammation or muscle relaxants may be prescribed to reduce the discomfort.
- Jaw joint surgery: In rare, severe cases, we explore surgical solutions to correct the jaw bone and the muscles attached to it.
Types of jaw joint treatments
Jaw joint treatments for nervous patients
At Taylored Dental Care, here is how we make your dental visits easy:
Jaw joint treatments can feel daunting—we know that. The idea of restricted diets, medicines, exercises and sometimes multiple dental treatments may be too much to take.
- Friendly consultations: We slowly listen to your complaints and fears, answering every doubt in the process. A thorough, well-structured treatment plan is necessary for TMJ disorders and we walk you through every step, to avoid surprises later.
- Numbing techniques and sedation: In case we opt for invasive dental treatments like bite corrections, redoing crowns, bridges, and jaw manipulation, we numb the region or sedate you in case you’re anxious. We perform all surgeries under general anaesthesia.
- Minimally invasive procedures: Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting small needles into the joint to flush out debris and inflammatory byproducts.
- We follow up with counselling: We prioritise patient education. We help you understand habits that aggravate the pain, such as teeth clenching or grinding, and provide easy at-home jaw joint treatments to avoid them. Positive reinforcement and encouragement throughout the treatment process are a must to boost the patient’s confidence.
