TMJ Specialist

What is TMJ disorder?

You have two temporomandibular joints, one on each side of your jaw, and they allow you to open and close your mouth. TMJ disorder causes pain or dysfunction in your jaw joints, which can negatively impact your quality of life if it’s left untreated. The team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center can relieve TMJ discomfort.

What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?

The following signs or symptoms are associated with TMJ disorders:

• Jaw tenderness
• Aching facial pain
• Discomfort in one or both jaw joints
• Pain with chewing
• Pain near your ear
• Jaw joint locking
• Popping or clicking sounds in the jaw

TMJ pain may not bother you, but if it’s long-lasting, severe, or worsening, visit the team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center for an evaluation.

What causes TMJ disorder?

Often, the cause of TMJ disorder is unknown. It might be due to:

• Teeth grinding
• Stress
• Misaligned teeth or jaw
• Injury
• Dislocation
• Arthritis
• Connective tissue diseases

To find out if you have TMJ disorder, your surgeons at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center review your symptoms and medical history. They examine your mouth and jaw, observe its range of motion, and check for tenderness and popping sounds. Your surgeon use Cone beam CT to diagnose your condition. MRI is often times needed as well.

How is TMJ disorder treated?

The team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center begins with a thorough exam, including X-rays and other digital scans to evaluate your jaw, temporomandibular joint, and other facial structures. Then, depending on your specific needs, they recommend treatment.

Botox

If your TMJ pain is due to over-activated muscles, your surgeon might recommend Botox® injections to temporarily deactivate the muscles. Botox injections are quick and usually take effect within 3 to 5 days. The effects of Botox wear off eventually, so you need to have injections a few times a year.

Arthrocentesis

After Arthocentesis is a minimally invasive procedure to wash out the joint space that has build up pain mediators. The procedure is performed under IV sedation and provides good relief of pain in about 80 percent of the patients undergoing the procedure.

Arthroscopy

When indicated, your surgeons sometimes place a very small camera inside the joint to assess the joint and to wash out the joint. Because you can see the joint directly with the camera, invaluable information is obtained about the diseased joint from this procedure.

Surgery

In severe cases, the team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center offers open joint surgery to repair or replace your joint. Don’t live with chronic jaw pain when numerous TMJ treatments offer relief. Schedule an appointment with Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center by phone or online today.