TMJ disorder treatment in Fort Worth, TX
Jaw pain, clicking, headaches and morning soreness are not something you have to live with. We diagnose the cause before treating the symptom.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint connects your lower jaw to your skull, and it is one of the most heavily used joints in the body. When something goes wrong with the joint, the disc inside it or the muscles around it, the result is the cluster of symptoms usually described as a TMJ disorder.
Pain isn’t always felt in the joint itself. Headaches, earache, neck tension and worn-down teeth are all common ways a TMJ problem announces itself.
Different types of TMJ disorder
Myofascial pain
Pain in the jaw joint area caused by increased muscle tension and spasm. This is the most common presentation.
Internal derangement
Displacement of the disc within the joint, dislocation of the jaw, or trauma to the jaw condyles.
Arthritis
Degenerative joint disease affecting the temporomandibular joint in the same way it affects other joints.
How we assess and treat it
When diagnosing a TMJ disorder, your Fort Worth dentist will carefully evaluate joint symptoms and function. Additional tests, including specialised radiographic imaging, may be ordered if the picture isn’t clear.
Treatment options may include oral appliances such as night guards to protect the teeth and unload the joint, alongside approaches aimed at the underlying muscle tension. We start conservatively and escalate only if we need to.
Self-care that genuinely helps
- Eat soft foods while symptoms are flaring
- Avoid excessive jaw movement — wide yawning and gum chewing especially
- Practise stress reduction techniques, since clenching is often stress-driven
- Use ice packs or moist heat as directed by your dentist
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