TMJ Therapy — Friendswood, TX

TMD refers to temporomandibular joint disorder, sometimes referred to as TMJ, for the temporomandibular joint. TMD refers to a number of problems related to this jaw joint, its musculature, and related structures. TMJ refers to the hinge joint itself. TMD problems can be extremely painful and cause normal function to be difficult or impossible. Treatment of TMD is often multifaceted. Proper diagnosis is essential. Dr. Sierra would be happy to help you with TMD and discuss treatment at length. Contact our team to schedule a consultation to discuss options for TMJ therapy in Friendswood, TX.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Patients who notice any of the following symptoms should let our team know right away.

• Clicking or popping in the jaw joint
• Mild to severe facial pain
• Headaches
• Difficulty chewing
• “Locked” jaw or the inability to comfortably open and close the mouth
• Change in bite alignment

In most cases, patients first experience chronic minor discomfort or sporadic episodes where symptoms become acute. Left untreated, patients begin to experience more frequent interference with sleep, eating, speaking, and other regular daily functions. In extremely severe cases, patients may find themselves partially or completely unable to open and close the mouth without experiencing pain. It’s difficult to determine one specific cause of TMD, but some related oral and overall health concerns patients should be aware of include:

• Facial injury or trauma
• Missing teeth
• Bad bite alignment or uncomfortable alignment between top and bottom teeth
• Bruxism or chronic teeth grinding and clenching
• Stress
• Poor muscular development
• Bad posture
• Heredity is now being talked about as a possible major factor

Equilibration and Occlusal Adjustments

In most cases, our goal will be to help patients comfortably realign their jaw to diminish associated discomfort. This can be achieved by a number of methods including physical therapy, surgical readjustments, and orthodontic treatment.

Occlusal Splints

Possibly the easiest way to improve overall comfort quickly is to wear an occlusal splint during sleep. While we’re awake, it’s easy to stop ourselves from engaging in jaw usage that is painful, but at night, we may be doing untold damage to our TMJ without ever knowing it. Occlusal splints worn during sleep comfortably reposition the jaw allowing patients to rest easily through the night and preventing excessive strain or pressure on the jaw. We custom craft these occlusal splints to meet each patients’ unique needs allowing them to speak, drink, and breathe easily while wearing their splint.