Dentist Hendon: General Dentist Hendon TMJ Treatment
TMJ disorder (also called TMD) can cause pain, clicking or difficulty opening your mouth. It affects the jaw joints on either side of your head and the muscles that control them. It can also cause headaches and pain in the neck or shoulders.
Various treatments can help TMD pain, including noninvasive options like medication or physical therapy. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Muscle relaxants can also be helpful, especially for those who clench or grind their teeth. For professional dentist Hendon TMJ treatment services, check this out.
General Dentists
Unlike specialists specialising in just one facet of dentistry, general dentists are highly educated and trained in various dental procedures. They often serve as the primary oral health care providers for patients of all ages, and they work with their patients to ensure that their teeth are healthy and robust.
General dentists can also help their patients prevent the progression of problems in their mouths, jaws, and tongues. Identifying and addressing issues early on can prevent the onset of more severe conditions that require costly and time-consuming treatment.
Additionally, if you are dealing with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), your general dentist can provide pain relief through several methods. From night guards to medication, these professionals can alleviate this condition’s symptoms that affect the jaw joints. They can also prescribe appliances to address excessive snoring and sleep apnea. They can even provide cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening or porcelain veneers to enhance your smile.
Exercises
The right jaw exercises can help reduce pain and stiffness in your TMJ. These exercises can be done by yourself or with the help of a physical therapist. However, checking with your doctor or dentist before starting these exercises is essential. It would help if you also avoid activities that might aggravate your symptoms. These include leaning on the chin, chewing hard foods, biting your nails, and grinding or clenching, which can be particularly difficult to stop when sleeping. For professional dentist Hendon TMJ treatment services, check this out.
One good exercise to relieve TMJ pain is slowly opening and closing your mouth while keeping your teeth apart. It would help if you tried to do this six times a day. Another helpful exercise is to place your thumb finger below your chin while you gently push against the jaw and flex it. It will help strengthen the jaw muscles.
Medication
Muscle and joint problems around your jaw usually cause TMJ pain and discomfort. Most TMJ problems, whether muscular or within the joint, improve with home treatment and lifestyle changes. Your doctor or oral surgeon may prescribe over-the-counter pain relievers, like NSAIDs and antidepressants, that change how your body processes pain. They may also recommend mouthguards to reduce clenching and grinding (bruxism) and stress reduction techniques like meditation or mindfulness.
Surgery
Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your lower jawbone to your skull, helping you chew and speak. If yours aren’t functioning correctly, you may experience various symptoms, including facial pain and difficulty opening or closing your mouth. Also known as TMD, temporomandibular joint dysfunction can affect up to 10% of the population. For professional dentist Hendon TMJ treatment services, check this out.
A TMD treatment plan is tailored to your specific signs and symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. If over-the-counter medications aren’t effective, they might recommend more potent prescription drugs.
If the underlying cause of your TMD is structural, you might benefit from surgery. Your surgeon might perform TMJ arthroscopy, which involves inserting a small thin tube with a light and camera (an arthroscope) into your joint space. Then, they might use small surgical tools to reshape bone, remove scar tissue or reposition the disk in your TMJ. This surgery is usually reserved for patients whose symptoms don’t respond to other, more conservative treatments. If you are experiencing some pain and difficulty opening your mouth, visit a dentist immediately to get an immediate assessment.