TMJ Specialist

Dental Care Olathe

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Olathe, KS

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic jaw pain, earaches, and headaches. The main source of these pains can be attributed to your temporomandibular joint. Count on the highly qualified team at Dental Care Olathe in Olathe, Kansas, to help relieve your pain by customizing a treatment plan with the goal of having you able to chew and speak without any discomfort. If you have questions about your jaw pain, call us today or book your appointment online. Dental Care Olathe is opening another location soon in Overland Park, Kansas.

913-372-2834

TMJ Q & A

What is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)?

Your temporomandibular joint connects your skull to your jawbone. It’s one of the most widely used joints in your body, so normal wear and tear can eventually cause TMD and make it painful for you to open your mouth to chew or speak. Additionally, other causes of TMD include:

Arthritis around your joint
Jaw dislocation or injury
A misaligned bite
Teeth grinding or clenching
Excessive gum chewing

Because TMD can cause other problems later in life, it’s important you schedule a consultation with our knowledgeable team to determine if you have TMD.

What are the symptoms of TMD?

Because TMD can greatly diminish your physical and emotional well-being, it’s important to understand some of the symptoms associated with TMD, which may include:

Earaches or ringing in your ears
Jaw, neck, or shoulder pain
Clicking or popping of your jaw
Swelling on the side of your face
An uncomfortable bite or trouble chewing

According to the Delta Dental Plans Association, the best way for our skillful staff to properly diagnose you is to palpate your jaw to identify sites of pain or discomfort. In addition, your dentist observes your jaw’s range of motion and listens to any abnormal sound when you open and close your mouth.

How can I treat TMD?

You can attempt to prevent TMD by relieving stress on your jaw. This can be done by not clenching your teeth and by massaging your jaw and cheeks regularly.

Nonetheless, if you do develop TMD, our knowledgeable staff understands every person is affected differently, so they create a custom treatment plan which may include:

Pain management

Your dentist can prescribe painkillers and muscle relaxants to ease your TMD symptoms. In addition, a combination of using heat and ice helps to manage the pain.

Dental work

Different procedures, injections, or even surgery may be needed to realign your teeth or jaw.

Orthodontics

Devices such as night guards or dental splints can help reduce the negative effects of muscle spasms or teeth grinding.

If you’re experiencing jaw pain, stiffness, and earaches, contact Dental Care Olathe today or schedule your appointment online.

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