You might seek a TMJ specialist if you have jaw pain, clicking and popping in the jaw joint or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). You should also visit a TMJ professional if you have recurring migraines. When choosing a tmj specialist near me, it is important to consider your treatment goals. It is also a good idea to check reviews of the practitioner you are considering. This will give you a good sense of their experience and expertise. You should look for a specialist who has a high patient satisfaction rate. In addition, look for a tmj specialist who is affiliated with reputable dental organizations.

TMJ specialists can provide you with a treatment plan that fits your needs. They can offer conservative or more invasive treatments, like splints and mouthguards.

How to Find a TMJ Specialist

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is designed to allow us to chew, talk, and swallow without pain or discomfort. When it gets misaligned, however, you may experience a painful condition known as TMJ disorder (TMD).

TMD can lead to many problems that affect your quality of life. It can cause jaw pain, headaches, and teeth damage from clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism), and it can even lead to malnutrition if eating becomes difficult.

Fortunately, there are a number of treatment options to ease the symptoms of TMD. The first step is to find a specialist that will help you manage your TMD. Your TMJ specialist will review your medical history, dental records, and other factors that could be contributing to your pain or causing it to flare up. They will also recommend the most appropriate conservative treatments for your unique situation. These can include lifestyle changes, medications, physical therapy, or custom oral appliances like splints.

Get Referrals

If you have been diagnosed with TMJ and are experiencing pain in your jaw or face, you need a TMJ specialist to identify the cause of your discomfort. They will diagnose TMJ and offer a variety of treatment options to relieve your symptoms.

Many TMJ specialists are trained in conservative therapies such as bite plates and occlusal splints, but they may also recommend other therapies. These might include physical therapy and exercises, moist heat, ice packs, and counseling on avoiding activities that can trigger increased pain, such as teeth grinding or chewing.

TMJ is a complex problem that can affect several other parts of the body. Therefore, a good TMJ specialist will work closely with other professionals to improve their patient’s treatment outcomes. For example, they might refer patients to a sleep physician to help with sleep apnea or rheumatologists to manage systemic autoimmune conditions. They will also collaborate with physical therapists and pain management specialists.

Consider Experience

TMJ is a complex joint made up of two articulating bones and ligaments. It can be caused by many factors. These include clenching or grinding your teeth, poor fitting dentures, yawning for long periods with your mouth open, trauma to the jaw or head, faulty dental work, accidents involving the face and neck, stress and medical comorbidities.

The diagnosis of TMJ starts with a full history and interview. A trained TMJ specialist will palpate the tendons, muscles, and joints of the jaw. They will also conduct a cranial nerve screening, evaluate your neck and ask about headaches and sleep problems. They may request x-rays or other tests.

A TMJ specialist will recommend the best course of treatment based on their diagnosis. They may offer lifestyle changes, physical therapy, custom mouthguards, or more advanced treatments like injections or surgery. The right treatment can improve or even reverse TMJ symptoms, restoring your comfort and function. They will also teach you how to avoid future TMJ problems.

Check Reviews

TMJ pain can be caused by a wide range of issues. They include overuse of chewing muscles, muscle knots, or trigger points, medical comorbidities such as migraines and fibromyalgia, and structural issues like malocclusion (bad bite), clenching and grinding teeth, yawning for prolonged periods, and injuries to the head and jaw.

TMD symptoms may also include neck pain, earaches, dizziness, shoulder pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Our board-certified dentist near me is familiar with a variety of treatment methods that can help alleviate your pain.