The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the skull and jaw bone. TMJ disorders occur when these joints are injured, under stress, or if the jaw does not line up correctly. Patients with malocclusion are also more likely to develop TMD because an unbalanced bite places pressure on the TMJ.
Dr. Melvin Benson provides TMJ treatment for patients in his Sarasota, FL, dental office. He provides custom-made appliances that prevent bruxism or teeth clenching and grinding.
What Are the Signs of TMD?
There are many common symptoms of TMJ disorders:
- Tightness in the jaw or facial muscles, particularly after waking
- Teeth clenching and grinding
- Jaw popping or clicking when chewing and speaking
- Headaches and migraines
- Pain in the jaw, cheeks, neck, or teeth (orofacial pain)
Please contact our office if you notice any sudden changes in your bite or jaw. We will provide a diagnosis before we recommend treatment.
TMD Diagnosis and Treatment in Sarasota, FL
First, we will perform a dental examination for TMD. We will check the jaw joints and muscles for tenderness and difficulty of movement. Digital x-rays are quick and non-invasive tools we use to view the teeth and jaw. These x-rays look for jaw damage, tooth wear and damage, and malocclusion.
Our dental office provides custom-made nightguards that we make out of dental impressions. Once we make the impression of the upper or lower teeth, we send it to a local lab, which makes the nightguard out of hard acrylic. We will alter the nightguard as needed at the next appointment to ensure a balanced fit.
To clean the nightguard, soak it in a mouthguard or oral appliance cleaner. Avoid eating or drinking anything other than water when your nightguard is in use.
Schedule a Dental Appointment
Does your jaw pop or click when you eat hard or chewy foods? Do you often wake up with a headache or migraine? You may have a TMJ disorder. Call Integrated Dental of Florida for TMJ treatment today at 941-270-9755. You can also request a dental consultation with us on our website. If you have any questions for us, let us know at your next dental visit, and we can help.