TMJ Pain Treatment: You Deserve To Live Without Pain and Discomfort

If you wake up with headaches and jaw pain or are popping more than four painkillers per week, the pain may not be in your head. These discomforts may be caused by TMJ disorder (TMD), which affects the hinge-like joints on either side of the jaw. 

While you may have visited more doctors than you can count, Rugby Dental Arts in Charlottesville, Virginia, can treat your TMJ disorder without drugs or invasive treatments. We use a custom-fitted mouthpiece to help your jaw muscles and joints relax, minimizing TMJ-related aches and pains. If you suspect TMJ pain, call Dr. Daniel Bearley as the first step towards a pain-free lifestyle.

What causes TMJ pain?

Even though TMD affects millions, doctors haven’t been able to isolate the exact cause. Many factors have been linked to TMJ disorder, with many unproven theories. Some claim poor posture, lack of sleep, and poor diet can cause TMD. 

As a dental office specializing in TMJ treatment, we find teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) the most common causes of TMD. Many patients often take out their frustrations when stressed or anxious by subconsciously grinding and clenching their teeth. Often, the pressure exerted during these bad habits strains the TMJs, leading to pain and other discomforts. 

How Dr. Daniel Bearley treats TMJ disorder

Since TMJ pain is so common, our office screens every patient for this disorder during regular dental exams. If we diagnose you with TMD, we’ll devise a treatment plan that includes one or a combination of non-surgical therapies. 

A customized oral appliance is usually the first line of treatment for TMD. Since many TMD cases are caused by chronic teeth grinding, a mouthguard prevents the upper and lower teeth from meeting. A dental device takes the tension off the jaw joints, muscles, and surrounding structures, reducing discomfort.

A TMJ mouthguard trains the jaw structures to relax when worn over time, offering a long-term solution for your pain. While mouthguards can help with many cases, sometimes we combine them with jaw exercises and orthodontics for an all-rounded approach. In extreme cases, we may recommend advanced treatments like surgery, but this is rarely the case.

TMJ dysfunction treatment near me

Battling TMJ pain in Charlottesville, VA? You can be pain-free! Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Daniel Bearley by calling (434) 443-8034.

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