TMJ Treatment – Columbia, TN
Lasting Relief from Persistent Jaw Pain
Are you looking to find lasting relief from persistent jaw pain? TMJ disorder (TMD) is a bothersome condition that can have a great impact on your quality of life. Fortunately, the team at Beck Dental Care of Columbia has received additional training to help us heal your TMJ and get you back to living comfortably again using a variety of specialized options for TMJ treatment in Columbia, TN.
Why Choose Beck Dental Care for TMJ Treatment?
- Multiple Treatment Possibilities
- Care from an Empathetic & Skilled Team
- Conservative & Effective TMJ Therapy
What Is TMJ Disorder?
TMD is a disorder that affects the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull. This joint is a ball-and-socket joint like your shoulder. If something goes wrong inside the joint, this is called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and you will find yourself in discomfort or pain until it is fixed. TMD can be caused by a number of different factors, such as stress, teeth grinding, injury, and more.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
Here are some symptoms that indicate you may have TMD:
- Clicking and popping in your jaw
- Pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles
- Jaw locking in an open or closed position
- Limited jaw mobility
- Painful bite and difficulty chewing tough foods
- Teeth grinding and clenching
- Migraines and headaches
- Persistent neck and back aches
- Noticeable changes in bite
TMD can cause other symptoms as well; regular evaluations by your dental team can help you identify problems and keep your jaw functioning well.
Types of TMJ Treatment
When you visit us for a consultation, we will thoroughly examine your mouth and ask about your symptoms. We may also take some X-rays or use our CBCT machine to get an in-depth look at your TMJ. From there, we will be able to design a custom treatment plan. We may recommend that you combine home remedies with professional therapy. Hopefully, you will soon be on your way to a pain-free jaw!
Occlusal Splint
Our highly skilled dentists are able to offer custom mouthguards, also called occlusal splints, to take the pressure off your TMJ, allowing it to heal. Your custom mouthguard will also protect you against teeth grinding and TMD-related headaches so you can begin living pain-free again in no time.
Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment
TMD may occur because your upper and lower teeth contact one another incorrectly. We can often address this issue by performing an occlusal adjustment. By making slight alterations to either your natural teeth or your crowns/bridges, we can promote a more harmonious bite. As a result, your TMJ will be able to heal.
TMJ Therapy FAQs
While you will definitely want to begin the process of finding relief from your TMJ disorder as promptly as possible, you should always take the time to make sure that you fully understand your condition as well as what will happen during the treatment process. Below, we have compiled a short list of TMJ-related questions and provided brief yet informative answers. If there’s something else you want to ask, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and set up an appointment.
Can TMJ Disorder Be Treated Without Surgery?
Yes, and it’s generally recommended to do so whenever possible. While surgical treatments for TMJ disorder do exist, this approach shouldn’t be your first choice in most cases. Why resort to making permanent changes to your jaw if you can find relief with less invasive methods? Once we examine your mouth, we can put together a plan for treating your TMJ disorder without surgery; this will likely involve wearing a customized mouthguard as well as taking steps at home to manage the issue.
Is TMJ Treatment Safe?
Wearing a mouthguard that has been personalized for your unique smile is considered a very safe approach to treating TMJ disorder. Of course, any treatment that you undergo to relieve your jaw pain should be handled by a professional that you can trust. At Beck Dental Care of Columbia, our team will always take your comfort and safety very seriously, and we’ll personalize our approach to your care to meet your specific needs.
How Long Does It Take for a TMJ Mouthguard to Work?
Some TMJ treatment plans take longer than others to complete. The cause of the disorder and the severity of your symptoms will affect how long it takes to find relief. If you wear a mouthguard as part of your TMJ treatment, it likely won’t be long before you notice a reduction in your pain, and there will be a noticeable improvement after the six-week mark. However, the exact amount of time that you need to wear your mouthguard before your TMJ disorder is resolved is not set in stone.
Is TMJ Treatment Covered by Insurance?
TMJ treatment can potentially be covered by insurance, but there are several variables that need to be taken into account. First of all, the procedure can potentially be covered by either your medical insurance or your dental insurance; it depends on the specifics of your plan as well as the type of treatment that you’re pursuing.
On top of that, the kind of coverage that your insurance company is willing to offer for TMJ treatment often depends on what policy you have as well as what state you live in. Some insurance plans might exclude TMJ treatment altogether while others may only offer coverage for specific procedures. In short, before you start seeking a solution for your TMJ disorder, it always pays to double-check your plan to make sure that you have a firm grasp on what your benefits look like.