Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) performs a crucial role, facilitated by expertise from TMJ Neuromuscular Dentist. As one of the body’s most complex joints, it enables your jaw to open, close, and move side to side, allowing you to chew and speak with ease.

For some patients, the TMJ will cause temporary problems that go away on their own, but for others, this joint can cause chronic pain, tension, and stress that can impact your quality of life in North Bethesda.

Your TMJ can experience numerous issues that have causes ranging from an improper bite to an injury to your unique facial structure or even your posture. When the TMJ isn’t working properly, it can place unnecessary stress on the joint, which can lead to muscle tension, inflammation, and even chronic pain.

People with TMJ disorders in Rockville may also be grinding their teeth, which can place additional stress and tension on the joint. The result can be facial or neck pain, headaches, ear pain or ringing in the ears, and even depression in some studies. The constant pain of dealing with an inflamed joint and tense muscles can greatly impact your quality of life.

Fortunately, TMJ disorders are manageable if not fully treatable in the majority of cases. The first step is determining what could be causing your symptoms with a consultation and exam with Dr. Nikkhah at Pike District Smiles.

During your consultation with us, we’ll conduct an oral exam and x-rays to get a closer look at the way your teeth fit together and what’s going on with your temporomandibular joint. Dr. Nikkhah may also ask you some questions about your symptoms and your pain. Sometimes, additional diagnostics will be needed, such as a CT scan or an MRI.

Once we uncover the potential root cause of your TMJ issues, we’ll discuss a treatment plan. Depending on the cause of your symptoms, available treatments for TMJ issues could include:

• Reducing stress. Some patients in North Bethesda have TMJ pain that’s underlying cause is likely stress, making stress reduction an important part of their treatment.
• Treating underlying conditions. Treating conditions that could affect or cause TMJ discomfort, such as arthritis or bruxism, can help some patients.
• Physical therapy. Jaw exercises may help relieve tension and provide more support for TMJ.
• Medication. Some anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants can help patients with temporomandibular joint pain or inflammation.
• Alternative treatments. These could include biofeedback, where a device is used to measure muscle tension to provide better guidance for therapies, acupuncture, or relaxation techniques.
• Surgery. In rare cases, surgery may be the only option to help your TMJ discomfort.

You don’t have to live with the discomfort of a TMJ disorder in North Bethesda. With our best tmj neuromuscular dentist let’s discover what’s causing your pain and design a custom treatment plan for you. Contact us at Pike District Smiles to schedule a consultation for TMJ pain today.