The Chandler dentists at Shumway Dental Care will make sure you have a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile. Whether you need cosmetic dentistry, bridges or crowns, or just a checkup, their staff will make sure your visit is comfortable. Visit http://www.mychandlerdentists.com/
3150 S Gilbert Rd Suite 1
Chandler, AZ 85286
(480) 420-7551
2. TMJ, medically referred to as
temporomandibular joint, is the hinge
that connects the mandible or lower jaw
to the skull's temporal bone located right
in front of the ears.
3. These hinges or joints are flexible enough
to enable the jaw to move, allowing you
to chew and talk.
Muscles are affixed around and to the
joint itself to help control the movement
and position.
6. Dentists play a vital role in determining
the warning signs of TMJ pain.
Not only do they clean and repair your
teeth, but they also track your dental and
general health history.
7. According to various studies, symptoms
of TMD, or temporomandibular
disorders, can start from mere
tenderness and pain in the area to the
locking of joints, resulting in difficulty
closing and opening your mouth.
8. Physical examination is often done to
patients who experience discomfort.
This includes listening and feeling your
jaw when you open and close it, pressing
around the area to identify the painful
sites and observing your jaw's scope of
motion.
9. To ensure proper diagnosis, dentists may
also require panoramic X-rays, MRI or
magnetic resonance imaging, or a CT
scan to help them pinpoint the main
cause of your discomfort.
11. There are various treatments for TMJ
(also known as TMD) and these include
surgical procedures and therapies.
Surgery is by far the most common TMJ
treatment.
12. This is done if other milder remedies
didn't work and if the cause of the pain is
a structural problem.
The open-joint surgery is performed if
tumors are found within the joint area or
if severe scarring is present.
13. While arthroscopy - another form of
surgical procedure - creates only a small
incision on the ear frontage, open-joint
surgery requires the entire
temporomandibular joint area to be
opened.
14. Arthrocentesis is yet another procedure
performed by licensed dentists, which
involves the insertion of needles that
help irrigate the joint area to remove
detritus and treat inflammation.
Injecting corticosteroid or botulinum
toxin to jaw muscles can also help ease
the pain.
15. There are also therapies which can treat
TMJ disorders, one of which is the TENS
therapy or transcutaneous electrical
nerve stimulation therapy.
Dentists will utilize low-level of electrical
currents to relax your facial muscles and
joints resulting to relieved pain.
16. Ultrasound treatment and radio wave
therapy are other therapeutic options
you and your dentist have.
18. Dental experts also have milder
treatments if your TMD pain is not at its
worst.
Pain relievers
Sedatives
Muscle relaxants
are among a few medications you may
take to ease the pain.
19. Furthermore, they also suggest patients
like you perform jaw stretching or
massage if you feel even minor pain to
avoid the worse cases of TMD.
There’s a proper way of massaging and
jaw stretching, so be sure to talk with
your dentist about this.
20. The dentists at Shumway Dental Care
located in Chandler AZ
are experienced and caring.
21. They know the best and most up-to-date
Techniques in dental care, including
TMJ pain relief treatment.