New Help for TMJ Disorder in Chesapeake

You may be so used to it, that you almost forget about it—pain in your neck, stiffness and soreness in your jaw, tension that seems to radiate from your head through every part of your body. Then when you stop and try to relax, you realize just how much pain and soreness you’re living with every day. It’s possible that you’re suffering from TMD/TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, a misalignment of your bite.

Stop and think if you’ve experienced any of these symptoms:

  • Headaches/Migraines
  • Neck, shoulder or back pain
  • Facial pain
  • Clicking or grating sounds in the jaw joints
  • Limited movement or locking jaw
  • Unexplained loose, worn, or cracked teeth
  • Pain or soreness around the jaw joints
  • Congestion or stuffiness of the ears

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the TMJ Association, LTD both suggest that “Less is Best” when treating TMD. In our dental office in Chesapeake, Dr. Tanya Brown uses the most conservative and gentle therapies to help relieve your TMJ pain and tension. She uses truly amazing technology to create a replica of your teeth and jaw, and also takes panoramic, 3D images using low-radiation cone-beam technology.

Depending on her analysis of your bite, she may treat your TMJ/TMD in Chesapeake with a bite splint appliance that can be placed selectively over several or all of your teeth. She may also recommend making very small occlusal adjustments, or reshaping of your teeth. You might also benefit from a night guard appliance to prevent nighttime grinding and clenching.

If we’ve described your pain and symptoms in this article, relief can begin with a call to the Center for Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry in Chesapeake, VA at 757.546.5262. You don’t need to live with the pain of TMJ/TMD that can impact your daily life with pain and tension.