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Relieve Symptoms

of TMJ

If your temporomandibular joint is impaired, you can experience significant discomfort performing daily activities like chewing and speaking. This joint enables your jaw to open and close properly, and may become damaged due to misalignment, bruxism, or arthritis. Our dentists, Dr. Eddy Sauer, Jr. and Dr. Nathaniel Avirett, offer various customized TMJ treatment options to help relieve painful symptoms, including special oral appliances and the Invisalign® teeth-straightening system. During your consultation, your doctor can review your unique symptoms and conduct a thorough evaluation of your jaw and smile to determine the source of your condition. Our team at Shemen Dental Group LLP, in Amarillo, TX,  approach each case with personalized service and care.

Symptoms Include:

  • Pain when chewing, talking, swallowing, or yawning
  • Sensitivity in your facial, neck, or shoulder muscles
  • Inflammation or swelling along the jaw
  • Tinnitus
  • Stressed facial muscles
  • Balance issues or lightheadedness
  • A popping or clicking sound when you open and close your mouth
  • Tooth, ear, or headaches
  • Jaw locking into position
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Causes of TMJ

Your unique treatment can be designed to address the cause of your TMJ disorder to ensure successful results. There are several variables that can contribute to TMJ disorder, including:

1

Dislocated jaw

Painful TMJ disorders can occur if the joint is damaged by dislocation.
2

Misaligned bite

A misaligned bite, also known as, malocclusion is a common cause of TMJ.
3

Clenching/Grinding teeth

Grinding your teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw.
4

Uneven pressure

The joint may become damaged due to unequal distribution of pressure when chewing.
5

Injuries

Injuries to your neck or face, such as whiplash can cause TMJ disorders.
6

Arthritis

Traumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, & secondary degenerative arthritis can affect the joint.

Treatment Options

We offer several treatment options for TMJ disorder.

appliance

Appliance Therapy

At Shemen Dental Group, we offer several treatment options for TMJ disorder. Appliance therapy involves the use of an acrylic splint, that can support the jaw and be worn consistently. Our laboratory assistant is highly qualified and has been fabricating custom splints for our patients for 20 years. It typically takes about three week to design and manufacture a splint after your consultation.

Invisalign®

This advanced system requires patients to wear clear aligner trays for 20-22 hours each day, which progressively shift their teeth into the proper position. Patients generally receive a new set of trays every 2 weeks. One third of our Invisalign® patients use this method to treat TMJ disorder, because Invisalign® straightens teeth and subsequently reduces jaw tension while evenly redistributing pressure. We also provide our patients with additional smile enhancement options included in their initial fee, such as professional teeth whitening.

Relieve Your Symptoms

Our entire team is committed to providing the highest level of care to each and every patient to improve not only their oral health but their overall quality of life. If you are experiencing symptoms of TMJ disorder, such as jaw pain or discomfort when eating or speaking, Shemen Dental Group can provide a custom treatment approach to relieve pain and improve your condition. To speak to one of our experienced staff members about how our services can benefit you, please call us at (806) 358-2472 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.