What are the typical symptoms of TMJ disorder?

Headaches
Toothaches
Neck aches
Earaches
Upper shoulder pain
Ringing in the ears
Facial pain or tenderness around the jaw joint area
Difficulty opening the mouth very wide
Jaws that get “locked”
Clicking, grating, or popping sounds when opening and closing the mouth
Difficulty chewing

What You Can Expect

EFFECTIVE, FRIENDLY TREATMENT

An accurate diagnosis is always the first step toward providing effective treatment. Our doctors have extensive experience treating disorders of the jaw joint and jaw muscles and know exactly how to pinpoint the problem area. 95% of jaw pain is caused by muscular problems rather than jaw joint problems. Our doctors check for problems with the TMJ during new patient exams.

EXPERIENCED DIAGNOSIS

One of our doctors will examine the temporomandibular joints for pain or tenderness, listen for clicking, popping, or grating sounds during jaw movement. He will look for limited motion or locking of the jaw while opening or closing the mouth. He will also examine facial muscle function and your occlusion, the fitting together of the teeth of the lower jaw with the corresponding teeth of the upper jaw when the jaws are closed.

TREATMENT TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

Our doctors use the KOIS Deprogrammer, a high-tech diagnostic tool, to help determine the cause of your discomfort. The dental appliance makes contact with your four lower incisors when you close your mouth, thereby reducing resistance when the lower jaw moves back and forth, as with grinding of the teeth.

This small plastic dental appliance is worn at night for a period of two weeks and allows your doctor to diagnose the proper position and stability of your bite. If your discomfort is being caused by jaw muscle problems rather than problems with your jaw joint, you will feel relief by using this device. At this point, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. Every case is unique and we always provide treatment plans that fit your individual needs.