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TMJ/TMD Therapy – Chesterton, IN

No Need to Live
with Your Jaw Pain

Man in need of TMJ therapy holding jaw joints

The joints connecting your lower jaw to your skull (also known as the temporomandibular joints, or the TMJ) may be small, but if they’re not functioning properly, simple tasks like chewing, speaking, or even yawning could become much more difficult. In many cases, when the TMJ or the facial muscles around them are stressed or strained in some way, you could suffer from persistent pain as part of a condition called TMJ dysfunction (TMD). The discomfort and accompanying symptoms only get worse as time goes on, but fortunately, the Advanced Dental Concepts team can help you enjoy a fully functional, pain-free smile again with focused techniques for TMJ/TMD therapy in Chesteron, IN to combat TMD and jaw pain. Contact us to schedule your appointment today.

Why Choose Advanced Dental Concepts
for TMJ/TMD Therapy?

  • Custom-Fitted Nightguards
  • Modern Dental Office Staffed by Caring Team
  • Conservative Treatment Plans

Diagnosis & Treatment

TMJ therapy diagnostic images

We can check for signs of a TMD during your regular checkups, but you’re also likely to notice telltale symptoms on your own. Let us know right away if you regularly experience:

  • Persistent jaw, neck, head, or ear pain that may be particularly severe in the mornings.
  • Pain that occurs whenever you move your jaw, especially while chewing food or speaking.
  • Lockjaw, a condition where it becomes very difficult to fully open or close your mouth.
  • A clicking or grinding sound that occurs when you move your jaw.
  • Ringing in your ears.

TMD can become debilitating if it’s left alone for too long and might even ultimately require surgery or orthodontics. By seeing your dentist as soon as you think something might be wrong, it’ll be easier to solve the problem with a more conservative treatment.

Occlusal Splints

TMJ therapy occlusal splint

Sometimes, the problem is that the teeth don’t fit together correctly and may be preventing the jaw from reaching an ideal resting position, putting additional strain on the joints or resulting in unnecessary movements. You can use a custom-fitted occlusal splint to help your teeth come together as they should and relieve the pressure on your TMJ. These splints can also be useful for protecting your teeth if you suffer from bruxism (nighttime teeth grinding).

Occlusal Adjustments

Skull and jawbone model for TMJ therapy planning

The surfaces of the teeth themselves can be adjusted in order to balance your overall bite so that there isn’t too much pressure being placed on your TMJ. Normally, this means removing small amounts of enamel on select teeth in strategic areas of your mouth.

Depending on your case, we might also suggest additional treatments for TMD such as facial exercises, daily stretches, or braces.