TMJ Treatment – Virginia Beach, VA
Curb Chronic Jaw Pain with Customized TMJ Treatment
Your temporomandibular joints are crucial to everyday function. Whenever you yawn, chew your food, or speak, they’re working to make those actions possible, which are essential to your survival. Unfortunately, just like whenever your knee joint causes you discomfort due to stress and being overworked, so can your TMJ. In these cases, treatment may be necessary to relieve the stress on the joints and minimize your daily discomfort. Our team at Smile by Design of Virginia Beach can help! Just give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Smile by Design of Virginia Beach for TMJ Treatment?
- In-Network with Most PPO Dental Insurance Plans
- Friendly & Experienced Team of Dentists
- Custom-Made, Durable Occlusal Splints
What is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ disorder is when the temporomandibular joints, which are a paired joint that anchor your lower jaw to your upper jaw, don’t function as effectively or smoothly as they should. This can cause a variety of symptoms that impact your daily life, as well as chronic pain. It can also be caused by a number of underlying conditions, including teeth grinding, orthodontic issues, or improperly placed restorations, like cavity fillings and dental crowns.
Signs of TMJ Disorder
Some warning signs that you’ll want to keep an eye out for that could indicate that you have TMJ disorder include:
- Inability to comfortably open your mouth all the way.
- Clicking or popping sounds when you open or close your mouth.
- Difficulty chewing food.
- Earaches or ringing in your ears.
- Chronic jaw discomfort.
- Migraines or headaches.
- Shoulder pain.
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding.
If you notice these symptoms and they’re beginning to shift your focus from your daily life to your condition, give us a call today to schedule an examination. Our dentists in Virginia Beach will help diagnose the issue at hand and develop a custom treatment plan to address your pain.
TMJ Treatment Options
Depending on the underlying cause of your TMJ pain, we may recommend either an occlusal splint or occlusal adjustment. In any case, we’ll thoroughly walk you through what each process will entail so you know exactly what to expect from it before deciding that you want to move forward.
Occlusal Splint
Occlusal splints are customized orthotic devices that you wear in your mouth as you sleep, similar to a mouthguard that you might wear if you grind your teeth. It’s made from a cushioning and durable material and specially designed to shift your jaw into its ideal alignment, releasing the tension from your joints. It also doubles as a guard against grinding, so you can rest assured that your teeth will remain protected!
Occlusal Adjustment/Equilibration
Occlusal adjustment, sometimes referred to as equilibration, is another method we can use to address TMJ pain. When restorations aren’t properly crafted, leaving your bite slightly misaligned and uneven, it can lead to one joint taking on more force and pressure than the other. Our dentists can adjust the restorations to make sure the mouth closes properly and all of your teeth come together evenly.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can TMJ Disorder Be Cured Permanently?
In rare cases, the discomfort associated with TMJ disorder can sometimes subside on its own over time, but if your symptoms are impacting your everyday life, you shouldn’t wait to visit a professional for treatment. Solutions such as occlusal splints and occlusal adjustments are designed to permanently address jaw tension, jaw misalignment, or other underlying causes of TMJ disorder—these treatments don’t merely mask symptoms. This means that so long as you adhere to your treatment plan, which might include the regular use of an oral appliance, you shouldn’t experience any lasting TMJ issues moving forward.
How Is TMJ Disorder Diagnosed?
Unfortunately, TMJ disorder is not always straightforward to diagnose, and there’s no standardized test for it, not to mention, in many cases, it causes symptoms that overlap with other conditions. However, a qualified dentist is usually capable of diagnosing the issue after asking about your symptoms and medical history, as well as examining your mouth. They’ll check the positioning of your teeth, ask you to perform certain jaw movements, and look for signs of inflammation in relevant areas. In some cases, X-rays or CBCT scans may be needed to fully uncover any issues affecting the jaw joints or nearby muscles.
Is TMJ Treatment Covered by Insurance?
TMJ treatment can sometimes be covered by medical insurance, while other times, dental insurance might offer coverage for this service—it really depends on the cause of the issue, as well as how it’s being treated. This is because TMJ treatment isn’t always exclusively related to dentistry, even though there are several types of TMJ treatments that can only be performed by a trained dental expert. Your coverage might depend on what policy you have, and it could also vary depending on what state you live in. In any case, and no matter where you’re located, it’s always wise to double-check the specifics of your plan or reach out directly to your provider for clarification; our team is also happy to help review the details of your plan with you and ensure you’re saving whenever possible!
Is TMJ Treatment Safe?
As long as you’re turning toward a qualified professional to receive TMJ treatment, then yes, the process is completely safe. Our team will always prioritize using the most conservative options available for treating your TMJ issues; surgery will only be considered as a very last resort if all other avenues have been exhausted. Treatments such as occlusal splints and occlusal adjustments/equilibration are all proven to be overwhelmingly safe and remarkably effective for addressing various types of TMJ problems. Keep in mind that attempting to treat your TMJ disorder yourself using a method that isn’t backed up by medical science might cause your pain to worsen, or you may experience other undesirable effects.