Temporomandibular joint disorders- Treatment in Los Gatos
A flawless smile thus not only portrays an aesthetically attractive personality but apart from this surface beauty factor, it also indicates good oral health of that particular individual. Our jaw plays one pivotal role in the overall maintenance of the shape of our mouth and its movements, thus, establishing a beautiful smile as well. The leading participant in this action is the TMJ or temporomandibular joint, which connects our jawbones on the skull by acting as a hinge joint. Thus, any disorder or dysfunction of these two joints, each present on either side of the face, will only result in pain and restricted movement of the jaw, disrupting the normal functioning of the whole head and neck region. Here we will briefly discuss the details of the TMJ disorders and their treatment availability in Los Gatos, California.
Symptoms
- Persistent pain of your jaw and in the surrounding jaw muscles
- Pain can be felt both temporomandibular joints, particularly
- Sheer pain in the ears or around them
- Overall facial pain
- Difficulty in chewing
- Sudden locking to the joint and making it hard to close or open your mouth
- Clicking sound while opening the mouth or chewing (minor complication, might not need medical attention if not painful)
Causes and risk factors
- Damaged TMJ due to any impact
- The disc of the joint gets misaligned in a jaw injury
- The joint’s cartilage gets damaged in patients with arthritis
- Long-term clenching or grinding of teeth
Treatment procedures
Suppose you notice any of the previously mentioned symptoms of a TMJ disorder and thus search for a suitable treatment for TMJ in Los Gatos. In that case, you must keep in mind the following procedures and accordingly look for efficient specialists or clinics.
- Oral appliance therapy for jaw repositioning– This is the most straightforward and widely used technique. In this, splints are used mainly to aid in the proper closing of the mouth after being placed either in the upper or the lower jaw.
- Orthodontic interferences– Treating different orthodontic conditions like malocclusions, misalignment, or teeth crowding with braces, which might be acting as the underlying cause of a TMJ muscle disorder and pain, has been proved to be effective.
- Full mouth rehabilitation– Combined treatments using different specialties of dentistry like prosthetic inclusions and other additional adjustments along with oral appliances are often employed by experienced TMJ surgeons to ensure a fast and effective recovery.
