TMJ Dentistry

TMJ, also abbreviated TMD, stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. This condition can cause many different symptoms and can be easily misdiagnosed. Dr. Ryan Clancy at Divine Smiles in Woburn and Winchester is an experienced neuromuscular dentist who can help to identify and diagnose TMJ and work to create an effective treatment plan. If you have been experiencing chronic headaches, jaw pain, or other symptoms, call us at (781) 396-8558 to schedule your TMJ appointment or make an appointment online.

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TMJ occurs due to problems with the temporomandibular joint—your jaw joint. It acts like a sliding hinge and allows your jaw to open, close, and move forward and side to side. The temporomandibular joints sit on either side of your head, just below your ears, and running through it is your largest cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve. This joint is highly complex and can become damaged or misaligned by improper bite mechanics. This can happen through:

Your jaw joint can become stressed and pushed out of place due to overused jaw muscles, slip in and out of place because of a structural problem, or joint inflammation can pull on your ligaments and nerves that run through the joint. TMJ can occur for all types of reasons, and the treatment depends on the root cause. Treatment can look different for everyone. In a thorough examination, Dr. Clancy can help pinpoint the cause or causes of your TMJ and recommend a long-term treatment plan to help alleviate your pain.

TMJ symptoms can be highly varied, leading to misdiagnosis since not all signs are localized to the jaw. For our patients in Woburn TMJ common symptoms include:

Many people suffering from TMJ turn to chiropractic, painkillers, and jaw stretches to relieve the pain, which can be debilitating in some cases. While these treatments may work temporarily, they do not address the root cause of your symptoms and can’t provide long-term relief. Working with a Woburn and Winchester neuromuscular dentist to find the proper alignment of your jaw is the best way to relieve symptoms permanently.

Suffering from TMJ symptoms can decrease your quality of life and lead to problems getting enough sleep or nutrition due to the pain. In addition, taking too many painkillers is bad for your overall health and can lead to addiction. Let us help you find a long-term treatment and improve your quality of life.

In addition to your treatment plan, there are other ways to relieve your TMJ pain in the meantime. You can apply a moist heat pack wrapped in a towel to your jaw. This will reduce pain and also increase the function of your jaw. Switch between moist heat and an ice pack. Be sure to wrap the ice pack in a towel and only apply for 10 to 15 minutes. To relieve TMJ pain, you can also avoid eating crunchy or chewy foods that require you to chew too much. For best practice, stick with soft foods for a few weeks to see if it reduces your pain. You should also avoid chewing gum as it overworks your jaw.

Patients can also find relief by taking over-the-counter pain medications, sleeping on their side, and practicing relaxation techniques. Reducing your stress through meditation, yoga, or a massage can help loosen up your TMJ joint and help you relax. You can also support your chin when you yawn to prevent your jaw from locking up. With these natural remedies combined with an actual treatment plan designed by Dr. Clancy, you can expect to start experiencing relief in the next few weeks. It’s essential to stay patient during the recovery time.