Dr. Chersa has suffered from TMJ pain for years, and empathizes with anyone who is suffering from it. He offers not only his expertise as a dentist, but also his experience as a patient himself to help out his patients. Call us today to book your Free Consultation with him :)
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the name of the joint located on either side of your head, just in front of your ears. These joints connect your jawbone to the skull. This joint in combination with other muscles and ligaments, lets you chew, swallow, speak and yawn. When you have a problem with the muscle, bone or other tissue in the area around the TMJ, you may have a TMD.
This condition is caused by a combination of factors like jaw injuries and joint disease, such as arthritis. It is believed that bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) and head or neck muscle tension may make TMD symptoms worse. Stress is also a possible factor. However, it is not clear if stress causes TMDs or is a result of them.
Every patient is unique and treatment depends on factors, like age, medical history, occlusion, muscular activity, missing teeth, restorations, etc. As such, there are different treatment options, including a dental splint, orthodontics, orthotics, etc. That's why we offer a free consultation to go over all your treatment options.
We also provide injections for grinding (bruxism) and muscular pain associated with TMD. Neuromodulators have been shown to reduce heavy muscular contractions and excessive grinding. They work by blocking nerve signals that cause uncontrollable muscle movements, essentially relaxing the muscles.
