TMJ Treatment in Valley Village, CA 

Relieve discomfort from TMJ. Call us at 818-766-7776 to discuss your treatment options.

Are you dealing with the pain and discomfort caused by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)? You can seek TMJ treatment in Valley Village, CA, by reaching out to our team at Rite Dentist. We offer holistic care options designed to relieve your pain and help you feel better.

Learn More About TMJ Disorders

Many people in the Valley Village area have questions about TMJ disorders. The disorder occurs when your jaw joints, jaw, or attached facial muscles malfunction. There are many symptoms of TMJ, including:

•       Severe pain around the jaw, face, shoulders, and neck
•       Discomfort
•       Inability to fully open the mouth
•       A jaw that “locks” either closed or open and won’t move
•       Problems chewing or biting down
•       Toothaches, neck aches, sore jaws, and headaches
•       Swelling around the face
•       Earaches and issues with hearing, including ringing in the ears
•       Feelings of dizziness

Patients who experience TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder) often hear a pop or click when they open or close their mouths. A dentist can assess your health if you experience any of these symptoms, perhaps leading to a TMD diagnosis in Valley Village.

Consider the Causes of TMJ in Valley Village

Before we begin TMJ treatment in Valley Village, CA, it’s essential to review the possible causes of your pain and discomfort. Doctors have yet to identify the root cause of TMJ issues. However, several factors often lead to TMJ symptoms, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Clenching your jaw
• Grinding your teeth
• Trauma to the jaw or face
• Sleep disorders and lack of sleep
• Misaligned teeth
• Misaligned jaw
• Stress
• Lack of specific vitamins and minerals
• Other health conditions

Dentists refer to teeth grinding with the term “bruxism.” Bruxism can occur at any time in the day, but many people grind their teeth at night, leading to discomfort or even severe pain in the mornings.

In addition to worsening TMD symptoms, grinding your teeth at night is associated with migraines. Grinding your teeth can also damage the enamel, weakening your teeth and even leading to cracks in some situations.

You can address your concerns regarding tooth grinding with a holistic dentist in Valley Village.

Review All Your TMJ Treatment Options in Valley Village

Our team takes the issues associated with TMJ disorders very seriously. We aim to help you reduce the discomfort and pain you experience due to this disorder through several holistic treatments.

Holistic dental care focuses on the condition of your entire body, not just one part, like your jaw. We work to bring your oral health into balance to help you feel your best. When handling TMJ treatment, we may offer you:

Home Care Solutions

In some cases, TMJ symptoms fade on their own once you give your jaw joint a chance to relax and recover. You may want to avoid chewing gum to speed up the recovery process. We may also advise you to:

•       Eat soft foods for a few days
•       Apply a warm compress to your jaw
•       Anti-inflammatory regimen (diet, natural supplements)

These home treatment options often help patients recover from the pain and discomfort commonly associated with TMJ.

Exercises to Help with TMJ

Your dentist may provide you with information about exercises to relieve TMJ symptoms in some situations. For example, some exercises encourage you to stretch your jaw muscles or relax the tension out of your jaw.

 These exercises often help patients manage their pain, improving their quality of life with TMJ.

Lifestyle and Supplement/Nutritional Modification

We recommend patients take certain vitamins, supplements, and herbs specific to their whole health, including oral and dental care. In addition, clear protocol and instruction are given to the patient to modify their lifestyle and diet to help reduce bruxing and relieve pain.

 

Night Guards to Address TMJ Symptoms

A holistic dentist may also suggest custom-made nightguards for patients who experience issues with TMJ. Nightguards fit over your teeth, keeping you from grinding them together when you sleep. This form of protection helps you avoid tension that can result in pain.

Laser Treatment

Another non-invasive method to reduce TMJ inflammation and pain is using a laser through the photobiomodulation technique we provide at Rite Dentist. Laser treatment decreases pain in chewing muscles in the facial and cervical regions and improves oral functions, quality of life, and perception of sleep quality.

We can discuss these non-invasive treatment options for TMJ when you contact us at our office.

Additional Treatments for TMJ

Some patients’ TMJ symptoms do not go away with non-invasive interventions. In this situation, you may consider other options, such as seeing a specialist who solely focuses on severe TMJ issues and exploring other options with the specialist that may help alleviate pain, including but not limited to surgical treatment. Cortisone shots can reduce inflammation and pain. Some patients even require joint replacement surgery for their jaw, especially if the extensive jaw damage.

We focus on the treatment options that best handle your unique situation.

Contact Us to Get Treatment for TMJ in Valley Village

You can reach out to us for TMJ treatment in Valley Village, CA. Our team at Rite Dentist provides you with holistic treatment options to help you get back to a pain-free state. Find out more about how we could assist you by calling 818-766-7776.