TMJ Treatment for All Ages
At our practice we find many of our patients complain of jaw, ear and head pain. Orthodontics can be used to assist with some of the factors that cause TMJ Disorder. If you are concerned about this, please don’t hesitate to ask us how we can help.
TMJ Treatment in McHenry, IL
At Conlon Thompson Orthodontics, we strive to help patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles through orthodontic treatment. We proudly offer Invisalign and Damon System Braces that assist in creating amazing smiles for our patients, but orthodontic treatment goes beyond esthetics. We go beyond achieving a perfect-looking smile, we want your smile to function well, too. Some patients come to us with discomfort caused by TMJ disorder and can be helped by our orthodontic care.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
The temporo mandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most used joints in the human body. Temporomandibular disorder refers to conditions that impact the temporal mandibular joint, facial nerves, and jaw muscles. In many cases patients come to us feeling jaw pain. TMJ pain can be triggered by the twisting of the jaw, opening or closing of the mouth or side-motion jaw movements. This condition can occur over time, as the muscles and ligaments holding the TMJ get damaged or stretched, moving the lower jaw out of alignment. It can also happen all at once in case of a traumatic event where the jaw slides too far out of the alignment, adversely impacting the functions of chewing and speaking.
Symptoms of TMD
TMD is one of the most common oral health problems for adults, with roughly 7 million people currently experiencing TMD and 30% of people experiencing it at some point in life. TMD can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Clicking or popping noises when opening or closing the mouth
- Inability to fully open the mouth
- Jaw pain
- Facial pain
- Constant or recurring headaches
- Neck pain
- Pain or tenderness in the ear or neck when opening the mouth wide
TMD symptoms can vary greatly, and many of these symptoms could also be caused by other conditions.
TMJ Treatment in McHenry, IL
At our practice, we’re proud to offer comprehensive treatment for TMJ disorder. Our orthodontist will perform a thorough evaluation of your mouth, jaw, and the joint tissue in your jaw, looking for issues like swelling, damaged tissue, and tissue deterioration as well as other factors like how your teeth fit together when your mouth is closed. Based on these factors, Dr. Thompson will form a diagnosis about your jaw pain and what may be causing it.