Do I Have TMJ?
TMJ can be hard to diagnose due to the variety of symptoms it can present. This is why you should visit a neuromuscular dentist with experience diagnosing and treating TMJ if you are suffering from chronic face and neck pain that nothing seems to help.
Dr. Ryan Clancy is an LVI-trained dentist who has helped countless patients find relief from their TMJ symptoms. Give him a call at (781) 396-8558 to schedule your consultation today.
How To Tell If You Have TMJ
Only a qualified TMJ specialist can give you a definite diagnosis. That being said, there are certain symptoms to look out for that are often telltale signs of TMJ disorder:
- Pain in the jaw and face
- Difficulty moving the jaw
- Ringing in the ears
- Lockjaw
- Chronic neck, shoulder, or back pain
- Chronic headaches or migraines
- Grinding or popping when trying to move the jaw
If you have any combination of these symptoms, we encourage you to visit Dr. Clancy for a thorough examination. He utilizes state of the art technology and years of training and experience to determine whether you have TMJ and what is causing it.
How Can You Treat TMJ?
TMJ is often caused by a misaligned bite, which is why many dentists specialize in treating TMJ disorder. Grinding, clenching, over or underbites, and crooked teeth are often some of the main culprits in a TMJ diagnosis.
Treatments for TMJ can include specialized orthotic devices to hold the jaw in place, as well as dental work to realign the bite. Common dental treatments that may be utilized to help treat TMD can include:
- Dental crowns
- Dental implants
- Bridges
- Orthodontic work
Night guards can also be utilized in order to prevent your teeth from being worn down if you grind your teeth in your sleep.
During your consultation, Dr. Clancy will relax your jaw using the TENS unit, and track your jaw movements with the K7 system in order to find the ideal position to relieve your pain. He will then work together with you to come up with a treatment plan to realign your jaw into that ideal position.
Most of our patients report pain relief and an increased quality of life after successful TMJ treatment. Proper TMJ treatment can also save patients from overuse of painkillers, which can cause long-term health concerns.
Schedule Your TMJ Consultation
If you think you may have TMD, don’t hesitate to schedule your consultation with Dr. Clancy at Divine Smiles by calling (781) 396-8558 today. We serve patients in Woburn and Winchester.
By Ryan M. Clancy, DMD, MAGD, LVIF, FPFA, FIAPA | March 2nd, 2018 | TMJ
