Overview
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the spot where your jaw connects to your skull to allow you to open and close your jaw easily. Sometimes the joint is injured or damaged, leading to a painful condition called temporomandibular joint dysfunction or disorder (TMD). If you are experiencing pain or hearing noises when you move your jaw, schedule a consultation with our team at Dental Health to determine if you have TMD. At our family dental practice in Brattleboro, VT, we use advanced equipment to diagnose and treat your TMD to relieve painful symptoms. Your treatment will be based on the cause of your TMD and your specific condition, but some options include oral appliances (mouth or night guards), bite adjustment, dental restorations, and more.
Best Candidates
TMD may be caused by a single injury to the jaw, chronic teeth grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching, or misalignment of the teeth (dental malocclusion). Medical conditions that may cause TMD include arthritis or a tumor in the TMJ. In some cases, the cause of TMD is unclear, but if you are experiencing symptoms, our team can still diagnose and treat your jaw. Some of the most common symptoms of TMD are pain or tenderness in the temporomandibular joint, spasms in your facial muscles, feeling like your jaw is stiff or stuck, and headaches that start in front of your ears. Another symptom is hearing popping, clicking, or cracking whenever you move your jaw.
What To Expect
To help diagnose TMD, a member of the Dental Health team will carefully listen and understand your concerns before performing a physical examination. During the exam, we will assess the movement of your jaw and look for signs of teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and misalignment. They will also feel the jaw and surrounding area for any tenderness and inflammation. We may want to take digital x-rays of your lower face or a bite analysis to look for underlying causes that may determine your treatment method. Based on the exam, we will go over your treatment options that may include a dental appliance, orthodontics, or dental restorations (crowns, bridges, and dentures).
Dental Health Reviews
Excellent dentist. Compassionate and caring. Everything explained well and she's highly skilled.
Our family has been coming here for almost 6 years. My oldest daughter was so nervous to go to the dentist for the first time and they went above and beyond to help her feel comfortable. We had the option to switch dentists due to our new insurance, but due to how comfortable they helped my young daughter feel we chose to stay with them. We now have three daughters and all three love going to the dentist. A very positive experience!
I initially picked this place because it is literally on the one road I must use to get anywhere from my apartment (I live in a very rural area). I could not have been luckier with my choice. Of course dentists get a bad rap in general because well, who enjoys having another persons hands in their mouth much less with the very real potential for sharp objects and tiny power tools to be used as part of the process? My random decision based entirely on convenience of location has resulted in the discovery of a care provider that easily exceeds not only my expectations but also surpasses with ease every other dental experience I have had in my 52 years on this planet. Every aspect of the care I’ve received here is nothing short of exceptional. They are genuinely friendly and undoubtedly skilled. The entire experience from reception to the dreaded chair and back is without a doubt superior to every other dental practice I have encountered. In a field where the potential for opportunistic behavior is ripe, the staff here is nothing but genuine, thoughtful, and professional. I regularly tell people how lucky I feel to have ended up with the best oral care I’ve ever had as a result of a random decision that was based entirely on convenience. I literally can not state how grateful I am to be a patient here and I would dare say that I look forward to my appointments. Hands down the best oral care I’ve ever received and I’m picky about my teeth .
Friendly , efficient , professional service All appointments and procedures have been done with skill and care. Well done!!
Kind, thorough, efficient, compassionate dental care.
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Follow-Up
Along with procedures to solve the underlying cause of your TMD, our Dental Health team can recommend other ways to relieve pain and other symptoms at home. This includes eating softer foods, avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails, heat packs on your jaw, and relaxation techniques. Our team can also give you exercises to strengthen your jaw or prescribe medicine to relax your jaw muscles (and to relieve pain, anxiety, or inflammation).
Continue to attend follow-up visits so we can check the progress of your TMJ therapy. If your treatment is not helping, they may consider a different approach. Once your TMD is treated, you should continue to schedule annual dental exams at Dental Health to keep your mouth healthy.
Insurance Coverage
Dental insurance coverage for TMJ pain diagnosis and TMD treatments will vary, so we will contact your carrier to calculate your out-of-pocket costs. Whether you have dental insurance or not, our team will go over cost estimates when discussing treatment options. To help make all treatments affordable, we accept many payment methods and can help you find low-interest medical financing.
Advanced TMD Treatments
Pain in your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) makes it difficult to chew, speak, and enjoy your life. Since there are many possible causes, symptoms, and solutions for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), schedule a consultation with our Dental Health team in Brattleboro, VT. We will give you a thorough examination before making a diagnosis and discussing treatment options. Contact Dental Health to get more information and schedule your appointment.