Not only does Dr. John A. Moore, Jr. continue broadening his dental knowledge through continuing education courses, but he teaches them as well. So, he’s the right dentist to call on to diagnose and treat the frustrating constellation of symptoms that can make up TMJ disorder. San Antonio TMJ treatment at Cosmetic Dental Associates can:
What is TMJ & Bruxism? Dr. Moore, San Antonio, TX Dentist Explains | CDA
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Bruxism and TMJ fall under this area of dentistry known as the occlusion or the bite. It turns out that the joint, which is what TMJ stands for, the temple bone, the T, the mandible, M, and J for joint – TMJ – is the hinge that gets into trouble when the teeth are not set exactly correctly. If you can imagine for a minute biting down on something that's a little bit high on one side and tipping the jaw, the kind of stress that it can place here on the joint can be extremely uncomfortable if you don't manage that properly.
This is an area of dentistry that I actually taught in dental school for about 10 years. That area at the time was very confused with it being a psychological problem, and you know, “It's just all in your head. You'll get over it. Here, you just need to quit grinding your teeth,” and stuff like that. That's not really what's going on there.
The TMJ, when it's truly that problem, the teeth are causing the issue, okay? You can have other things wrong with the TM joint like a cancer in there or arthritis in there or something like that. That's not the typical TMJ that a dentist will deal with. He's really after the one that involves your teeth being out of alignment. You can use a temporary acrylic bite positioner, which is referred to as a night guard or a bite guard or occlusal guard. Those kinds of things can be used temporarily all the way to the point of getting Invisalign, have braces to straighten the teeth out and fixing the bite, or making the crowns that you need to have done, or putting a bridge in where you lost some teeth, and getting that balance between the two joints reestablished so that you're healthy again.
So TMJ definitely does belong in the realm of the dentist, and it's something that should be looked into and managed always with any dental care that you get.
- Put an end to your jaw pain and tenderness
- Make it easier to talk, eat, and yawn
- Reduce headaches – both the frequency and intensity
- Ease tension in your neck and shoulders
- Stop teeth grinding and help prevent damage to your tooth enamel
Find TMJ relief at Cosmetic Dental Associates. Call 210-951-4444 (Medical Center at Babcock & Huebner) or 210-942-5047 (Alamo Ranch) today.
We Offer Effective TMJ Treatment Options
Dr. John Moore is a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain specialist. There are many ways for him to treat you and alleviate your symptoms so you can get back to living a pain-free life. Your options may include:
- Custom splints and mouthguards to realign your jaw. This will allow your muscles to relax while you sleep and protect your teeth from the effects of bruxism (teeth grinding), which sometimes causes TMJ disorder or can be a symptom of it.
- Occlusal adjustments and orthodontic work to bring your bite into proper alignment. A bad bite can lead to TMJ disorder because your jaw must regularly shift out of position when you chew. This same strain repeated several times a day could be at the root of your TMJ pain.
See Us If You Suffer From These TMJ Disorder Symptoms
Open and close your mouth. You will feel motion in your TMJ where your jawbone meets your cheekbone. This joint acts as a hinge every time you speak, chew food, or even yawn.
It’s not uncommon for this joint to become misaligned or irritated, or for you to strain the surrounding muscles. More than 10 million Americans are thought to suffer from TMJ disorder, which can also include debilitating pain from headaches and migraines.
Your pain could be related to your TMJ if:
- Your jaws, ears, neck, or shoulders ache
- You wake up in the morning with headaches or migraines
- You’ve been diagnosed with arthritis
- You hear clicking or popping noises when you open your mouth
Don’t let your TMJ disorder drag on. Symptoms can last days, months, or even years. Get the effective San Antonio TMJ treatment you need at Cosmetic Dental Associates. Call 210-951-4444 (Medical Center at Babcock & Huebner) or 210-942-5047 (Alamo Ranch) to schedule your consultation. You can also schedule online. We’re here to help you feel better!
