Clicking and popping in the jaw joint, along with pain and locking, are symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, conditions of the jaw joint that can be incredibly detrimental to your quality of life.
Patients with clicking and jaw pain may also experience headaches, difficulty chewing and eating, and other associated problems, which is why it’s important to understand what’s actually happening in your jaw and how you can treat it.
How TMJ Develops
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint where your lower jaw connects to your skull. If you place your fingers just below your ear and open and close your mouth, you can feel this joint in action. The jaw joint is complex and designed to have an impressive range of motion, which allows for our complex speech and varied diet. Unfortunately, complex joints can also have complex problems.
When the joint becomes inflamed, it stops working correctly. The clicking jaw pain many patients experience with TMJ disorders (also called TMD) is a sign of that inflammation. Fortunately, we have solutions available to help you relieve clicking, jaw pain, and other symptoms of TMJ disorders.
First, we’ll want to see if we can pinpoint the cause of the dysfunction. Sometimes, the joint is inflamed because of arthritis or an injury to the joint itself. Sometimes it’s the result of a long-term clenching and grinding habit known as bruxism. Sometimes stress is a factor. In addition to addressing the underlying cause, we will also address your symptoms to relieve your discomfort and restore function to the joint.
To help pinpoint the relevant factors, Dr. Chad Yenchesky will thoroughly examine your jaw area and teeth at Fox View Dental. After the exam, which will most likely include x-rays and the use of other advanced technologies, he will explain his findings to you and discuss treatment options.
Treating Clicking, Jaw Pain and Other Symptoms
The most common treatment we use for TMJ pain is a custom-made mouthguard or splint. A custom-made splint, worn at night, will help to relax your jaw muscles and provide support to reduce the inflammation in your joint.
Many patients experience significant relief from TMJ pain by wearing a custom appliance, and it’s a non-invasive and inexpensive treatment option. However, for situations where a nightguard alone doesn’t offer relief, we use advanced technologies like joint vibration analysis, digital Tekscan equipment, and on-site MLS laser therapy to help us pinpoint problem areas and alleviate discomfort.
Whether you have severe TMJ symptoms or only slight pain, we can assist you.
Our Green Bay Dental Office Can Help with TMJ!
We never want our patients to live with pain, and with the many treatment options available for TMJ disorders, there’s no reason to.
Dr. Chad and his skilled team are experienced in treating TMJ problems, along with dental issues.
If you are experiencing pain or other jaw symptoms, please call our De Pere dental office right away so we can determine the best treatment path for you.