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Do you experience pain in your jaw when you speak or chew? Are there times when your head and neck begin to ache, and over-the-counter pain medications just don’t help? If so, you may be one of the millions of people who suffer from TMJ disorder.

The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull on either side of the face, just in front of the ear. We put pressure on these joints routinely throughout the day simply by talking, biting, chewing, and even yawning. Many of us compound this pressure by grinding our teeth when we are stressed or even unconsciously while we are sleeping. Over time, the joints become worn, which can result in discomfort and, in some case, chronic excruciating pain.

Fortunately, modern dentistry offers a variety of solutions to TMJ disorder. At the Silverstrom Group, our trusted dental professionals are experts not only in disorders of the teeth and gums, but also in dysfunctions affecting the entire mouth and jaw area. Dr. David Silverstrom and Dr. Gary Silverstrom can help you to find relief from the agony of TMJ disorder and dramatically improve your standard of living.

Of course, not all jaw, neck, head, and shoulder pain can be attributed to TMJ disorder; the only way to find out whether your symptoms are the result of the condition is to undergo a thorough dental exam. To schedule your exam, or to find out more about TMJ treatment, please contact our Livingston, New Jersey dental practice today.

Causes and Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

Many factors can contribute to TMJ disorder, and often the disorder cannot be traced to a single specific cause. Stress, clenching of the teeth (clinically known as bruxism), and even alcohol consumption have all been associated with the disorder.

The symptoms of TMJ disorder range from mild discomfort in the jaw while eating or speaking to persistent neck, shoulder, and facial pain. Indeed, disorders of the TMJ are the single most common cause of facial pain among adults in the United States. Other symptoms of TMJ disorder include stiffness of the jaw muscles, clicking or popping of the jaw, and headaches, earaches, and toothaches.

TMJ Treatment

Some people who are diagnosed with TMJ disorder find that lifestyle changes sufficiently help to relieve their symptoms. For those with more severe cases, we offer the following treatments:

• Bite Therapy – Bite therapy involves a careful analysis of the jawbones, joints, and muscles in order to assess the cause or causes of the symptoms. We educate patients about jaw exercises that can help to mitigate jaw misalignments, promote jaw control, and reduce clenching and grinding.
• Splint Therapy – For patients whose tendency to clench and grind their teeth causes TMJ disorder symptoms and other types of craniofacial pain, we can custom design mouthguards (or “splints”) using an impression of their teeth. Splints prevent patients from grinding and clenching and promote optimal jaw alignment.
• NTI Therapy – The FDA-approved NTI device represents a significant improvement over past night guards in that it attaches only to the two front teeth, requiring no support from the back teeth whatsoever.  The NTI device is custom-crafted to fit comfortably in the mouth and reduces clenching while relaxing the jaw muscles.  The device not only alleviates the pain associated with TMJ disorder, but also treats migraine symptoms.

Patients with faulty bites and misaligned teeth may also find long-term relief from their symptoms through orthodontic treatment with Invisalign®.