Your Trusted TMJ Dentist in Sterling
Have you been experiencing pain in your jaws? You could be suffering from TMJ disorder, a common jaw joint problem that many don't realize they have. At Aesthetic Dentistry by Design, we provide high-quality TMJ treatment to Sterling patients to help you find relief from jaw pain and its many related health issues. Our dentist will take the time to analyze and understand your current condition and develop a thorough treatment plan to address your pain and discomfort and enable you to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Our Sterling TMJ treatment involves taking the necessary measures to protect your oral and general health. Our treatment plans will help resolve TMD symptoms and preserve your beautiful natural smile for decades to come. You can rely on our skilled team to offer efficient care that holistically addresses the problem at its source and is personalized to your unique needs. Contact our office today to schedule your initial appointment.
CALL US: (571) 434-8000 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
What Is TMJ Disorder?
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located on each side of the jaw, connects to the lower jaw to the skull and is vital in chewing, yawning, and speaking. Jaw pain and teeth grinding can cause inflammation or other jaw problems and affect your temporomandibular joint, resulting in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Our compassionate dentist can help you relieve TMJ symptoms with effective treatment that's tailored to you.
For people who suffer from teeth grinding or jaw pain, the jaw muscles experience an unhealthy amount of force that causes inflammation of the TMJ and triggers other medical problems. When you have TMD, jaw function will be impaired, and you may experience issues with tendons, muscles, and jaw alignment. You should seek TMD treatment if you experience symptoms such as:
- Dizziness
- Headaches or chronic migraines
- Tenderness and pain in the jaw, neck, shoulders, and face
- Inability to open your mouth widely
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
- Neck pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sensitive teeth
- Jaw getting stuck while closed or open
- Popping or clicking sound when opening or closing your mouth
- Hearing problems or earaches
Our team at Aesthetic Dentistry by Design has extensive experience with TMD and the many factors that contribute to the condition and its symptoms. Our dentist will diagnose and develop a treatment plan to alleviate pain and help you find relief.
CALL US: (571) 434-8000 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
How Is TMD Diagnosed?
Our TMD diagnosis process involves several steps to provide comprehensive treatment that offers long-term improvement and health. Our main goal is not just to treat the temporomandibular joint disorder but to use advanced dental technology to discover the root cause of TMD and fix the problem holistically. We evaluate for TMJ disorder during our full six-step exam:
- Medical Risk Assessment: Our dentists will review your medical risks so that we can tailor our treatment to your unique needs. This includes your medical history, blood pressure, diabetes, and more.
- Oral Cancer Screenings: Intraoral and extraoral cancer screening allows us to address the most serious health concerns quickly.
- Airway Screening: This determines how efficient your airway can function, with a particular focus on sleep apnea (OSA) risk potential.
- Occlusal Analysis: Our bite assessment checks how the teeth come together when your jaw is closed. An occlusal analysis is essential because your bite is affected by the alignment of your teeth, muscles, nerves, and bones. It will also highlight symptoms of TMD as well as potential contributing factors.
- Restorative Exam: Our dentist will use x-rays and digital images along with a visual evaluation to examine the integrity of dental restorations.
- Periodontal Exam: This involves analyzing the health of your gums, teeth, and soft tissues.
Our dentist will thoroughly evaluate your oral health situation to determine whether you suffer from TMD. In addition to these wellness exams, we'll test muscles, range of motion, and jaw position. All these help us see what the nine muscles in your mouth are doing when you're chewing, talking, resting, and more. We use BioScan to capture computerized details for incredible precision that allows us to tailor your treatment.
At the end of our TMD exam, all results will be displayed on the computer screen, and we will also have diagnostic images that visualize the internal jaw joint structures. We use dental x-rays and CBCT scans of the neck and skull. Our dentists take the time to discuss the results with you and to educate you about your oral health status.
CALL US: (571) 434-8000 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
Comprehensive Treatment for TMD in Sterling
Our team will develop a personalized treatment plan that alleviates continuing pain and discomfort while reducing the risk of future complications. Treatment takes place in two phases using various methods to achieve long-term results. Dr. Bryce will explain our Sterling TMJ treatment options in detail and will be happy to answer all your questions and concerns.
The first phase of TMJ treatment includes orthodontic appliances to wear during the day or night, oral myofunctional therapy that focuses on the tongue, and posture therapy to correct alignment issues with your neck, back, head, and shoulders. Typically, this phase of treatment lasts six months to help you become pain-free and correct any dysfunctions. Treatment duration will largely depend on the severity of the problem and may take longer than six months in some cases.
For Phase 2 treatment, our dentist may provide orthodontic therapy to eliminate the need for orthodontic appliances. In addition, full mouth restoration may be offered to those who need it. Our gentle team will provide continued follow-ups after treatments to help maintain results. Once your jaws and mouth are back in good health, our dentist can discuss cosmetic options for those who want to enhance their smile.
Get Professional TMJ Treatment in Sterling
TMJ disorder can have a serious effect on your oral and overall health, but that doesn't have to be the case. Our dentist at Aesthetic Dentistry by Design have the experience and skills to diagnose your dental situation and provide a lasting and effective solution. We proudly offer extensive TMJ disorder treatment for Sterling patients to enjoy newfound relief and comfort. If you experience any TMD symptoms, get in touch with our office today to set up your appointment and get the relief you deserve.
CALL US: (571) 434-8000 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
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