The Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ, is the small network of bones, nerves, and ligaments that helps your jaw open, close, and move around. If you suffer from a clicking, popping jaw, have difficulty opening your mouth, experience jaw locking, or experience jaw tenderness, you may be suffering from TMJ Disorder.
TMJ Disorder, or TMJD, can affect more than just your jaw. If you experience the symptoms of TMJD and also experience neck, shoulder, and back pain, it may all be related. Since everything in our body is connected, one part being misaligned can cause issues in other parts of the body. At Dental Designs, we use Neuromuscular Dentistry to treat TMJD and back pain. After assessing your jaw and oral health, we’ll recommend a treatment plan for you.
Treatment begins with diagnosis, which starts by stimulating and relaxing the jaw muscles to allow the jaw to rest in a natural and optimum position. Then, the jaw position is recorded, and using that recording, Dr. Quandt creates a custom oral appliance to realign the jaw joints. We may also suggest specific exercises for patients to perform at home to help treat TMJD.
