TMJ Treatment in San Carlos, CA

TMJ TREATMENT

Your temporomandibular joint, also called TMJ, connects your jawbone to your skull and performs an essential function in chewing and speaking. It is also a unique joint that moves as a sliding hinge, unlike any other joint in your body. Because of its unique characteristics, the TMJ can move out of alignment and become inflamed. TMJ inflammation can cause all kinds of other problems like headaches or facial pain that can be severe. Our team at Laurel Street Smiles in San Carlos, CA, can help!

Signs & Symptoms of TMJ Problems

Clicking, popping, or locking when you chew or open and close your mouth.

Pain or difficulty when you chew or open your mouth.

Aching facial pain that can radiate to other areas of your face.

Jaw tenderness and pain.

Aching pain in and around your ear.

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How to relieve minor TMJ symptoms

Avoid grinding or clenching your teeth.

Avoid chewy, sticky foods and gum.

Eat soft foods.

Take over-the-counter pain-relieving medications.

Apply moist heat or ice packs to your jaws and face.

If you continue to have symptoms or your symptoms become more severe, Dr. Sing is here to help with several professional treatments for TMJ. She may prescribe muscle relaxants, sedatives, or pain medications in addition to these treatments:

Wearing a custom-made splint or bite guard.

Moist heat and ice to the affected areas.

Physical therapy stretching exercises.

Corticosteroid injections into the jaw joint.

In some extreme cases, surgery may be needed to obtain relief. Many surgical treatments can be performed arthroscopically, which is much less invasive than conventional surgery. Ideally, TMJ problems should be treated before they become severe enough to need surgery.