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TMJ Treatment Beverly Hills

TMJ Treatment by Dental Sedation Center

What are TMJ Disorders?

Disorders of the temporomandibular joint are known as TMJ disorders. The joint is a hinge joint that connects a person’s skull to his or her jawbone. This joint can become irritated as can the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding it. The pain and discomfort felt at the joint are usually an indicator that there is an issue with its function or alignment.

Have you been experiencing throbbing pain in and around your face? Is the pain shooting towards your ears, causing a headache? Are you facing problems with chewing food? If so, you may be experiencing a TMJ disorder.

TMJ disorders are a group of conditions that cause pain, discomfort, and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that are responsible for jaw movement. Typically, the cause is tough to determine because numerous factors can contribute to it such as:

• Teeth clenching
• Teeth grinding, or bruxism
• Jaw injury
• Arthritis

Most of the time, pain relievers and mouthguards can assist to ease the discomfort. However, with more serious problems surgery may be necessary.

What Symptoms Are Seen with TMJ Disorders?

The most commonly described symptoms or signs of a TMJ disorder are:

• Throbbing facial pain
• Pain near or in the ear
• Tenderness or pain in jaw joint
• Headaches
• Locking of the joint, causing problematic closing and opening
• Challenging or painful chewing

A grating feeling when moving the jaw or a clicking noise when closing and opening the mouth can also be signs of a problem. When the pain persists even though the patient has taken pain relievers and utilizes self-care techniques, medical intervention is typically required. People should refer to the doctor right away if it becomes difficult to open and close the mouth to prevent further issues.

Diagnostic Measures

Before Dr. Cohen prescribes any treatment, but he will need to conduct an examination in order to better understand the issues. He will discuss your symptoms with you and then examine your jaw. If a problem is detected, an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI may be performed to reveal the problem.

What Treatments Are Employed for TMJ Disorders?

Numerous options are employed to treat problems related to TMJ disorders. TMJ disorders most often respond to home remedies like the following:

• Holding an ice pack against the area
• Avoiding chewing gum
• Gently stretching the jaw and neck
• Reducing stress

When home remedies are not lessening the symptoms of your temporomandibular joint disorder, you may need to seek help from a health expert. When the discomfort persists, physical therapy and pain medications are usually prescribed.

• Pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and sedatives: These are used to help a person with pain management.
• Mouthguards: These can assist in aligning the jaw while asleep and can prevent issues associated with teeth clenching or grinding.
• Injections of pain medication into the joint: These can be beneficial because they deliver the medicine right to the source.
• Physical therapy: This plays a vital role in relieving the pain associated with TMJ disorder. Exercises to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles are sometimes combined with ultrasound, moist heat, and ice.
• Education: This is a great way to understand the factors and behaviors that contribute to pain. It helps patients understand what aggravates the pain and how these triggers can be avoided.

How Much Does TMJ Treatment Cost?

The cost of a TMJ treatment will depend on several factors. The price can be affected by body type, type of technique performed, and even allergies. Find out more by scheduling a consultation.

Schedule a Consultation to Learn More

If you have been experiencing the symptoms of TMJ, it’s time to learn about TMJ treatment in Beverly Hills by contacting our office. Dr. Patric Cohen has the experience and skills necessary to provide the relief you need.