TMJ/TMD

A little teeth clenching and grinding is normal.

But with TMJ dysfunction, over time, your teeth will wear down along with your tolerance for
chronic pain.

TMJ Infographic

Click the image above to expand

What is TMJ/TMD?

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, or the jaw joint. TMD refers to temporomandibular joint dysfunction. These terms are often used interchangeably, and sometimes even TMJD gets thrown in the mix! Whatever you want to call it, it’s a pain in the neck—and the jaw, and the head, and the teeth! Many factors may contribute, but we can help provide relief!

Causes & contributing factors

  • Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) can be a cause and a symptom of TMD.
  • Women in their childbearing years make up 90% of TMD sufferers.
  • Misaligned teeth and bite can contribute, as well as physical injury of the joint itself.

What’s poppin’? If it’s your jaw, we feel your pain, and we’re here to help with customized solutions to protect your teeth and stop jaw pain at the source.

Do you suffer from TMD?

Contact your Brooklyn dentists, Drs. Lee, Yoon, or Lorenzo at Park Slope Dental Arts today to get the relief you deserve.

TMD Symptoms

We’ve talked a little already about what TMJ dysfunction can feel like. The most obvious sign is chronic jaw pain that can radiate out into the teeth, face, head, neck, and even the shoulders. The foot bone is connected to the leg bone, after all! We already mentioned teeth grinding and clenching, which can lead to worn down teeth and the need for dental restoration over time.

Other symptoms of TMD

  • If your teeth have become worn down over time, you may be grinding them down at night.
  • If you experience tooth pain without signs of decay or infection, you may be clenching.
  • If you have pain or limited mobility when opening your mouth, you may have TMD.

Does your jaw pop, lock, or click when you yawn? The only place popping and locking should happen is on the dance floor.

Sound familiar?

Contact your Brooklyn dentists at Park Slope Dental Arts today to schedule an exam! The sooner you come see us, the sooner we can get you out of pain and protect your teeth.

Woman putting on a nightguard to protect her teeth while she sleeps

TMD Treatment

If you’ve read this far, you might be wondering, “So, what’s the solution?” Well, ultimately it depends on precisely what’s causing your TMJ dysfunction, but oftentimes it’s a number of factors. We can give you a proper exam to help us pinpoint the nature of the problem, but the first place we usually start for treatment is a custom nightguard.

Other TMJ/TMD treatments

  • If you have a misaligned bite that may be a source of the problem, we can provide comprehensive orthodontic treatments.
  • If your top and bottom teeth are making contact prematurely, we can reshape them to minimize the pressure.
  • If you have a physical injury to the jaw joint itself, you may require jaw surgery, in which case we will refer you to a trusted oral surgery specialist in our network.

A custom nightguard can help redistribute bite forces, taking the pressure off your poor teeth, and provide a soft cushion to protect them from damage.

Put your chronic pain &
tension behind you!

We would love to help ease your pain and protect your smile for years to come. Contact your Brooklyn TMJ dentists at Park Slope Dental Arts today!

OFFICE HOURS

Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Holiday Closures
Closed: Sat, Dec 21st - Wed, Dec 25th
Closed: Tue, Dec 31st - Wed, Jan 1st

CONTACT US

506 3rd St., Brooklyn, NY 11215

(718) 962-0300

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