TMJ pain relief options from Manhattan Beach, CA dentist

The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, connect your jaw to your head and are one of the most complex joints in your body. If you stop and think about it, most joints (like the knee or the elbow) only move in one direction, but the TMJs help your jaw move many directions – side to side, back and forth, and up and down. It’s no wonder that the TMJs sometimes get out of alignment or cause pain and other negative symptoms. At Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions, patients in the Manhattan, CA area have TMJ pain relief options that really work.

Our TMJ treatment approach

You may have been told that your symptoms are all in your head or that there is nothing wrong with you, but at Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions, we truly understand TMJ disorder, its underlying causes, and the negative effects it can have on your life. After a complete evaluation of your teeth and jaw structures and speaking in depth with you about your symptoms, we will recommend the best treatment options for you and discuss the pros and cons of each.

Lifestyle modifications and dental treatment options

In general, we start with the least invasive options for treating TMJ pain. The reason for this is two-fold: in many cases, simple changes really do work and provide relief from pain, and they are also cost less in terms of time, money, and recovery for you. Depending on the underlying cause for your TMJ symptoms, we may recommend one or more of the following conservative treatment options:

• Stop chewing gum or on hard objects, such as ice or pencils
• Use a hands-free phone instead of cradling your phone in your neck while you are speaking on it
• Adjusting your posture
• Actively managing stress with techniques such as mindful breathing, meditation, or yoga

If an issue with the way your teeth bite together is causing your symptoms, then we can make the necessary adjustments to your teeth or dental restorations to help you get relief.

Some patients have TMJ symptoms due to a condition called bruxism, which is grinding and clenching your teeth (typically during sleep). If this is the case for you, a custom-designed oral appliance can help not only relieve your pain, but also prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your teeth due to bruxism.

For more severe cases of TMJ disorder, such as those that are due to anatomical issues or injuries, we offer a variety of more advanced treatments such as electro-therapeutic point stimulation, cold laser treatments, or trigger point injections.

Stop suffering from your TMJ symptoms and call Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions today! Our office can be reached at 310-340-6663.

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