TMJ-TMD

Do you suffer from persistent jaw pain, tension headaches, or worn teeth?

If so, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction/disorder (also referred to as TMJ or TMD), a painful jaw disorder that your Santa Barbara dentists regularly treat successfully.

TMJ affects 20–30% of the adult population; it is more common in women and in those between the ages of 20 and 40.

Symptoms Include:

• Clicking
• Popping
• Grating sounds coming from the jaw
• Muscle pain that can be felt in the cheeks and temples
• Jaw joint pain
• Severe tension headaches. Tension headaches aren’t life threatening, but they can be debilitating.

TMJ is most often caused by physical stress reactions such as clenching and grinding of the teeth, which commonly occur while sleeping. After administering a series of tests to determine the cause of your headaches or TMJ, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan that works in conjunction with your existing dental lifestyle. TMJ/TMD Treatments may include managing pain with a special diet, stretching exercises, and anti-inflammatory medications; in some complex cases, treatment may require orthodontics, restorations, and cortisone injections.

For more information, please call (805) 569-0716.