St. Paul TMJ Dentist Explains How Dentistry can Alleviate Symptoms of TMJ

Written by Drs. Mark and Rachel Malterud on Mar 13, 2012

Tempro-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMJ) is a common condition affecting a wide variety of people. TMJ is characterized by severe headaches, jaw pain of varying degrees, grinding teeth, and an intermittent ringing in the ears. The vast majority of sufferers are unaware that the root cause of these problems is something that can be effectively treated at Highland Park St. Paul TMJ Dentistry.

Reasons for treating TMJ


The symptoms of TMJ are debilitating and can greatly interfere with everyday life. TMJ sufferers report that symptoms become more severe during periods of stress. Serious symptoms of the condition can lead to neck pain and dizziness.

Commonly TMJ is caused by the misalignment of the teeth, or “bad bite”. If you’re suffering from TMJ you may be unaware of the fact that it is a dentist is able to realign or adjust teeth without the need for painful or expensive surgeries. The process of realignment will put an end to headaches, jaw pain and dizziness.

Grinding teeth (or bruxism) is a common symptom of TMJ, most often occurring during sleep. Left untreated, bruxism can erode the tooth structure, leading to complicated dental problems down the road.

What does treating TMJ involve?


The dentist will examine your jaw and test your bite, take x-rays, and review your history in order to make diagnosis the exact problem and develop a treatment plan. A custom-molded bite guard can be created that will stop teeth grinding during the night.
 
Another option is to reshape the teeth to get rid of the bad bite completely. This process is also referred to as “realignment.” The purpose of this realignment is to alleviate TMJ symptoms and may also improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth as well. As the name implies, realignment involves an adjustment of the bite, which may be at the heart of the TMJ symptoms.

A realignment may require new restorations and adjustment of the natural teeth. The procedure is not painful and has been proven to be successful in numerous cases at St. Paul TMJ Dental Office. Contact our office for a free consultation to discuss your symptoms and treatment options.