Chronic pain or stiffness in your jaw joint can significantly impact your life, leading to frequent headaches, clicking sounds when you chew, and difficulty opening your mouth wide. This is often an indication of a disorder affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding muscles (TMD).
If you are suffering from jaw pain in National City, CA, the team at Crown Dental Group can diagnose the underlying cause and provide effective, non-surgical treatment options.
Common Causes and Symptoms of TMJ/TMD
TMD is a complex disorder, but the most common cause is chronic stress on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. This stress is usually due to:
Bruxism: Habitual clenching or grinding of the teeth, especially while sleeping.
Misaligned Bite: When the upper and lower teeth don't fit together properly.
Stress: Muscle tension held in the jaw, neck, and shoulders.
Symptoms to Watch For:
Pain or tenderness in the jaw joint area, neck, or shoulders.
Difficulty opening your mouth wide.
A clicking, popping, or grating sound when you chew or open your mouth.
Frequent headaches or earaches.
Teeth that look worn down or flat.
Effective, Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Our goal is to alleviate the stress on the joint and prevent further damage to your teeth.
Custom Night Guards: This is one of the most effective treatments. We fabricate a custom-fit acrylic guard that is worn while sleeping. It acts as a protective cushion, preventing the upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other and relaxing the jaw muscles.
Bite Analysis: We analyze how your teeth meet to identify any misalignment that may be contributing to the joint stress.
Stress Management: Recommendations for stress reduction, heat/cold therapy, and jaw exercises to relax tense muscles.
If you are dealing with chronic jaw pain, don't ignore it. It often leads to severe tooth wear that requires extensive restorative treatment later on.
Call Crown Dental Group in National City today to schedule a consultation for your jaw pain and get relief!
