THE SMILE AGENCY
TMJ PAIN
Your Family Orthodontist in West Covina and Pasadena, California.
Pain in your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) can lead to headaches, jaw locking, and other complications. At The Smile Agency Orthodontics & Smile Design in West Covina and Pasadena, California, orthodontist Karen Guinn, DDS, offers innovative treatments for TMJ pain including Botox® and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
To find out if your TMJ pain needs professional intervention, call The Smile Agency Orthodontics & Smile Design or book an appointment today.
WHAT ARE TMJ PAIN?
TMJ pain is pressure, discomfort, or tension affecting your temporomandibular joints. These joints connect your lower jaw to the temples on either side of your head. The joints are responsible for any movements you make with your mouth, whether you’re yawning, chewing or speaking.
Persistent TMJ pain results in a complication called TMJ disorder. You can develop TMJ disorder because of teeth grinding, jaw clenching, misalignment, poor posture, arthritis, and other conditions and behaviors.
Teeth grinding, a common contributor to TMJ pain, often occurs when you sleep. In fact, you might not even realize that you do it until you come to The Smile Agency Orthodontics & Smile Design with TMJ pain and evidence of damage on the surfaces of your teeth.
THE SMILE AGENCY
TMJ SYMPTOMS
Find Out Some Common Symptoms Associated With TMJ Pain
In many cases, TMJ pain does not stand alone. You might experience other symptoms with your TMJ pain that cause even more discomfort and frustration.
HOW IS TMJ PAIN TREATED?
We Can Help You Relieve Your Pain
At The Smile Agency Orthodontics & Smile Design, Dr. Guinn offers several modern treatments to help ease your TMJ pain. She might also recommend home care like over-the-counter pain relievers or heat and ice therapy. For professional treatment, she might recommend:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
TENS therapy delivers low-level electrical impulses to the muscles in your face and jaw. These impulses help the muscles relax to relieve tension and pain.
Botox®
Botox is an injectable drug containing a neurotoxin that inhibits muscle movements for months. Strategically placed injections can provide long-term relief from muscle tension in your face leading to TMJ pain.
Night guards
If teeth grinding contributes to your TMJ pain, Dr. Guinn might recommend a custom-fit night guard to prevent teeth grinding while you sleep.