If You’re Having Jaw Problems - Especially With Opening & Closing Your Mouth - You May Be Having A Problem With Your TMJ. Learn About It On Our Site.

TMJ

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At Grand Ridge Orthodontics, it’s our goal to not only give our patients straighter smiles, but healthier smiles as well. We’re proud to offer a variety of treatments to accomplish this, from orthodontic treatment to jaw surgery in order to fix a wide range of oral health issues. One of these problems that we’re able to able to treat is TMJ. As your orthodontic team and orthodontist in Grand Rapids, MI, we’d like to tell you more about it.

What Is TMJ?

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, which is the jaw joint. This joint connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone of the skull and assists in the basic opening and closing of the mouth. It’s one of the most intricate joints in the entire body.

However, when there’s a disorder that affects this joint, it’s also often called TMJ (it’s typically used interchangeably with TMD – temporomandibular joint disorder). This disorder can cause recurring, debilitating pain in the jaw when it’s left alone, which is why it’s important to visit your orthodontist in Grand Rapids, MI for TMJ treatment.

What Is TMJ?

Some of the common signs or symptoms that you may have TMJ include:

  • Clicking or popping of the jaw joints when you open or close your mouth.
  • Limited ability to open your mouth.
  • Trouble with chewing or speaking.
  • Pain or tenderness when eating, talking, or opening your mouth.
  • Headaches, earaches, or other kinds of facial pain.

It’s important for us to note that these symptoms may also be a result of other, unrelated conditions, which is why we recommend that you visit your orthodontist in Grand Rapids, MI to see if you have this condition and will need to undergo TMJ treatment.

Our TMJ Treatment

When you come visit your orthodontist in Grand Rapids, MI, we’ll offer a TMJ exam that will evaluate the joint tissue that’s in the hinge of your jaw. We’ll look for potential problems, such as swelling and deterioration or damage of the joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones when the mouth is opening or closing). In most cases of TMJ, we recommend common pain relievers and cold compresses to temporarily relieve pain or discomfort.

In more serious cases, we’ll suggest alternative TMJ treatments. We may recommend:

  • Using a bite splint to unload the temporomandibular joint and allow for joint swelling reduction.
  • Preparing the joints for minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures if there are severe internal joint derangements.
  • Getting additional dental care to help protect your TMJ health.

Visit Your Orthodontist in Grand Rapids, MI!

If you’re looking for our TMJ treatment or you’d like to see if you have any TMJ problems, we encourage you to schedule a visit with your orthodontist in Grand Rapids, MI by filling out our appointment request form. Alternatively, you can give us a call at (616) 364-1700 to schedule an appointment. We’re looking forward to seeing you and helping you attain the best oral health possible!