If your jaw feels rather sore, you may think of visiting a family medical practice. Primary care doctors are the ones most consulted about aches and pains. Even so, you should actually go to your nearest dental provider; it’s best to see a dentist for TMJ treatment when possible. Your Astoria dental team can even share the reasons behind this truth. To that end, here’s a primer on TMJ disorder, why dentists are qualified to treat it, and how dentistry usually manages it.
Remind Me: What’s TMJ Disorder?
Before anything else, you’d do well to review the basics of TMJ disorder. Its connection to dentistry won’t make sense otherwise.
TMJ disorder is a set of painful conditions related to your jawbone. Often caused by bone erosion, sprains, arthritis, and injuries, it interferes with your jaw’s temporomandibular joints – the TMJs. (These joints allow you to open and close your mouth smoothly.) The disorder’s symptoms thus include jaw clicking, headaches, facial swelling, and so on.
Those with TMJ disorder should seek medical help as soon as possible. Left unchecked, problems with your TMJ can reduce your quality of life.
Are Dentists Qualified to Treat It?
In reality, dentists aren’t just equipped to help your teeth and gums. They can also treat problems related to your TMJs.
The truth is that qualified dentists are trained to understand jaw anatomy. During their education at dental school and beyond, they learn about your jawbone, its parts, and its role in your overall health. The reason is simple: jaw issues often stem from dental conditions like an unbalanced bite. As such, a dentist usually has ways to fix TMJ discomfort that address the underlying oral matter.
How Dentistry Treats TMJ Disorder?
Depending on who you see, a dentist can use various methods to treat your TMJ disorder. Some of the more common ones include:
- An Occlusal Splint – When your TMJ pain stems from bruxism, a dentist will often provide you with an occlusal splint. This device shifts your jaw into its ideal position to relieve stress, thus easing your symptoms.
- Occlusal Adjustment – With occlusal adjustment, a dentist slightly alters the shape of your teeth to take pressure off your TMJs. The result is usually less pain in your jaw.
- Orthodontics – Some dentists advise orthodontic work for TMJ issues caused by jaw misalignment. After all, options like traditional braces and Invisalign would realign your jaws so they close in the proper position.
Given the points above, remember to see your dentist for TMJ treatment. They’ll gladly help your jaw feel much better!
About the Practice
ED Family Dental is based in Astoria, NY. Led by Dr. Eduart Shkurti, our practice loves helping local patients develop strong smiles. We thus offer highly effective and comprehensive dentistry, our procedures spanning preventive, cosmetic, and restorative care. Our team is even equipped to treat TMJ disorder with the relevant therapies. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (646)-713-0132.