Do you wake up in the morning with a headache? Do you sometimes hear a clicking or popping sound when you yawn? These are only a couple of the signs of TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder can be a painful and annoying condition. However, the dentists at Smile Fitness Dental Center have been treating patients in Phoenix, AZ, and Peoria, AZ, with TMJ therapy for years, and they can help you, too.
TMJ disorder, or dysfunction, is a condition that results when the temporomandibular joint is not working properly. This joint is located on either side of your head just in front of your ears and is called into play whenever you talk, chew, yawn or laugh. TMJ has a number of causes including traumatic injury to the face or head, an improper bite, wear and tear on the teeth as a result of aging, or teeth grinding and clenching. In fact, the symptoms of TMJ are largely due to overuse of the jaw muscles, making nighttime teeth grinding and clenching (or bruxism) a primary culprit.
TMJ Therapy: Diagnosis and Treatment
Everyone may occasionally experience some of the symptoms of TMJ disorder. For example, your jaw may temporarily feel sore after chewing sticky candy. However, if the pain is persistent and lasts for a few weeks, then you’ll want to see one of the dentists at Smile Fitness Dental Center. Some other symptoms include: swelling on the side of your face, sensitive teeth, an earache without infection, upper and lower teeth that do not align, or a feeling that your jaw is locked when you try to chew or talk.
If you are consistently experiencing any of these symptoms, then you should schedule an appointment at Smile Fitness Dental Center. Our dentists will be able to determine whether or not you may benefit from TMJ therapy. If so, they will likely prescribe an oral appliance called a nightguard that will reposition the bite and prevent nighttime grinding and clenching. Another option is to build up the surface of your teeth in order to reconstruct proper bite alignment.
Call Our Office Today
To determine whether or not you need TMJ therapy, schedule an appointment with Smile Fitness Dental Center in Phoenix, AZ, or Peoria, AZ. We also conveniently serve patients in Sun City, Paradise Valley, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe.
In the dentist’s office, you’re probably using to hearing about problems that can directly affect your teeth and gums, from cavities to periodontal disease to cracks in the enamel. But did you know that one of the most debilitating oral health conditions actually affects an area that you may have never even heard of? We’re talking about the temporomandibular joints, which are usually referred to as TMJ. While these joints may be small, they serve a very important purpose. They connect your lower jaw to your skull, as well as contain crucial elements such as blood vessels, nerves, and bone. Of course, all this responsibility means that even when they’re slightly misaligned, it can have extremely negative consequences on the state of your teeth and your overall wellbeing. Thankfully, 
Do any of the symptoms sound familiar?