TMJ Disorders and TMD Treatments 

 

More than 10 million Americans suffer from Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD or commonly referred to as TMJ), with many people never knowing it or that there is treatment available. At Manoa Dental, we focus on treating facial and unexplained jaw pain that may be affecting your everyday life, specifically resulting from TMD.

Advanced Technology to Better Treat Your TMD

Our office uses state-of-the-art technology, including a CBCT evaluation of your TMJ. 

Additionally, our team uses the T-Scan® system by Tekscan to perform a computerized bite analysis, offering a more precise analysis than traditional methods. When you visit for your evaluation, you will only need to bite down on the sensor for it to calculate your bite force and location. This information is absolutely necessary to treat TMJ symptoms and begin treatment procedures that offer long-term relief.

Our mission is to restore your lifestyle as it was prior to having your condition, improving your overall health in the process. If left untreated, TMJ disorders can be linked to other health issues.

What Is a Temporomandibular Joint?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and is composed of two main bones: the temporal bone of the skull and the mandibular bone, which is your lower jaw. There is also a piece of cartilage known as the disk that separates these bones and acts as a cushion between them when you open and close your mouth. This is the only joint in the body designed to dislocate when in use, such as chewing, talking, and breathing. If you place your finger against the forward section of your ear, you can feel this joint in action as you open and close on your back teeth.

The TMJ is also a part of the three main components of the orofacial complex, including the muscles of the head and neck. As a result, problems with this joint can lead to headaches, migraines, and neck pain. Temporomandibular disorders can also affect your smile, with symptoms such as fractured or cracked teeth, excessive wear, or crooked teeth. A healthy TMJ does not make any noise, have grinding, or produce any pain when opening and closing. If any of these occur, the TMJ is considered to have TMD. Symptoms of TMD commonly include:

Reliable and Conservative TMD Treatments

At Manoa Dental, we understand the root causes of TMJ disorders, so we can treat the root cause instead of just masking the symptoms with a mouthpiece or splint therapy. Without treatment, the TMD symptoms will eventually return or become worse than they were before treatment.

Dr. Do and Dr. Choy put their considerable experience and knowledge to work for you, so you can get the relief you're looking for. Proper conservative treatment is successful in almost all cases and is our preferred method of treatment. We believe surgery is rarely a good option and has a very poor record of being a long-term solution. If you're looking for TMJ disorder treatments, give our team a call today to schedule your visit.