TMJ Treatment
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TMJ Treatment in Philadelphia, PA

TMJ is one of those issues you really have to take seriously. It often starts small with a little click in your jaw, a dull headache you dismiss as stress, or some soreness after chewing. It’s easy to ignore, but that little problem can grow into something that affects your whole day, every day. It can make eating your favorite foods a painful chore and turn a simple yawn into a worrying event.

If you’re even remotely suspicious that you’re dealing with TMJ, or if you just want to get it handled by a dental office that puts you first, then your next call should be to us at Center City Emergency Dentist. We help treat TMJ with various solutions that are proven to help our Philadelphia patients. Visit us today!

What Exactly Is This Jaw-Popping, Headache-Inducing Problem Called TMJ?

You have a joint on each side of your face, right in front of your ears, called the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short. It connects your mandible, which is your lower jaw, to your skull. This joint allows you to talk, chew, and yawn. When the joint, its surrounding muscle groups, or the little shock-absorbing disc inside gets irritated or out of whack, you get a TMJ disorder (TMD).

Think of it like a hinge on a door that’s slightly off its frame. It might still work, but it groans, sticks, and puts strain on the surrounding wood. That’s what’s happening in your jaw. The resulting inflammation and strain are what cause the pain, the clicking sounds, and even that persistent headache that seems to come from nowhere.

This kind of jaw disorder doesn’t just appear out of thin air. You might be experiencing a TMJ if you’re noticing some of these tell-tale signs:

  • Pain or tenderness in your jaw, especially around the joint area.
  • Aching pain in and around your ear.
  • Difficulty or discomfort while chewing.
  • Aching facial pain or a persistent headache.
  • Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth.
  • Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open your mouth or chew.
  • Pain that extends to your neck and shoulders.

CCED Explores First-Line, Gentle Approaches for Relief

Not every case of jaw pain requires an intense intervention right out of the gate. Often, relief can be found by giving your jaw joint a much-needed break and reducing inflammation. We might first explore some at-home care and small adjustments that can make a huge difference in your comfort levels.

This can involve simple things like applying gentle heat to the sore muscle to encourage it to relax. We also talk about being mindful of how stress affects your body; many people clench their jaw without even realizing it. Simple therapy exercises, changes in your chewing habits, and giving up tough, chewy foods for a bit can help take a lot of pressure off that irritated joint and let it begin to heal.

When Conservative Methods Aren’t Cutting It

If your jaw pain continues, it’s time to look at more direct treatments. A major source of relief we provide in our office is a custom-fit oral appliance. We create a device that repositions your jaw while you sleep, allowing the joint and muscle to rest in a less strained position. In some situations, a combination of approaches works best. We might discuss medication to help with muscle inflammation and pain, or we may suggest physical therapy. Targeted physical therapy can be amazing for strengthening the muscles around the jaw and neck, improving posture, and providing long-term stability for the joint.

Thinking About Letting Jaw Problems Go Unchecked? Think Again.

Putting off treatment for a TMJ disorder can lead to a whole host of other issues that ripple outwards, affecting more than just your mouth. That initial discomfort can escalate and start to impact your quality of life in significant ways. Letting the underlying disease progress means the joint can sustain more damage, making a solution more complex down the road.

Here are some common problems that can pop up if TMJ issues are ignored:

  • Chronic and debilitating headache episodes.
  • Excessive wear, cracking, or fracturing of your tooth surfaces.
  • The jaw locking in an open or closed position, making it hard to use your mouth.
  • Persistent pain that spreads to your face, neck, and even your upper back and shoulders.
  • Noticeable difficulty with basic functions like chewing food or speaking clearly.
  • The popping and clicking sounds becoming louder, more frequent, or more painful.

A Glimpse at the Full Scope of Our Dentistry Services Available Right Here in Center City

While we’re deeply focused on resolving your TMJ troubles, our commitment to your oral health covers all the bases. Our office is equipped to handle a wide range of dental needs, so you always have a trusted place to turn to for care.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder — Even the Name Sounds Complicated, But Finding a Solution in Philly Doesn’t Have to Be

Temporomandibular joint disorder. Nothing about those words sounds pleasant or simple. The pain, the clicking, the headaches — it all adds up to a problem that can quietly take over your life. But here at Center City Emergency Dentist, you will find professional treatments that are straightforward and focused on you. We get to the bottom of your jaw pain and create a plan to make that discomfort a thing of your past, so you can get back to living your life without a second thought.

Visit us today if you suspect TMJ symptoms are plaguing your life.