TMJ Treatment in Simi Valley
What does TMJ stand for?
TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder.
What is TMJ disorder exactly?
TMJ disorder is the separation of the jaw from the Temporomandibular Joint. This joint is responsible for joining the temporal bone of the skull with the jaw. In other words, the lower part of the joint has come out of its normal position in one or both joints in which the joint was connected to the skull.
What is TMJ disorder caused by?
TMJ disorder can be caused by opening the mouth too widely, by problems with your teeth, by a strong blow in a traffic accident or a sports accident.
What are TMJ disorder symptoms?
You could identify whether you have a broken jaw through some of these symptoms:
- Dimple in front of the ear
- Drooling
- Inability to open and close your mouth or move the jaw from side to side
- Difficulty with everyday activities such as talking, eating and drinking
- Pain and swelling in front of the ear
- Misaligned teeth
- The sides of the face look uneven
TMJ Treatment
The treatment depends on the severity of the dislocation.
There are devices such as wires or elastic bands to prevent the jaw from moving. You can also practice manual reduction to return it to its normal position.
If there have been dislocations on several occasions, physical therapy may be required to strengthen the muscles of the jaw. That could help keep the jaw from dislocating again.
Surgery is considered when it is very serious or when other treatments do not work. However, whichever your case, do not hesitate to visit your dentist at your earliest convenience.
At The Dental Center of Simi Valley, we do not do injections, but we do make guards to help patients with any TMJ issues they may have.
If you are currently interested in starting your TMJ treatment, please contact our office in Simi Valley, and schedule your appointment with Dr. Harmik Hartounian at (805) 579-0600.
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