TMJ Treatment in Chester Makes a Pain-Free Jaw Possible
Nagging jaw pain. Popping when you chew. Maybe even a locked jaw at times. These are all symptoms of TMJ disorder that the office of Walter D. Felton, DDS can treat with a simple oral appliance. TMJ treatment from our Chester dental team can help:
Doctor Walter Felton on TMJ Treatment
Read Transcript
So a lot of people come to the office with various levels of jaw pain. It can be pain from the muscles that control the jaw, or it can be pain in the jaw joint itself. So there are a lot of different reasons why the jaw can hurt you. Now one of the things I will say about jaw pain is the people that I have observed over the years who have severe jaw problems are in the most sever kind of pain that I've ever seen. These people almost walk around crying all of the time.
It's very difficult to treat the jaw. In the past it was thought that jaw surgery was helpful. Over time we've learned that is not the way to go. The end result of a person who's had surgery vs. a person that hasn't had surgery is really no different. So of the ways that we treat TMJ, one of the most important ways is muscle therapy and this is achieved by something called a night guard or an occlusal guard. What this device does it is retrains the muscle groups that control the opening and closing of the jaws.
By giving these muscle groups a rest for six to eight hours a day your muscle groups will relax, they will function differently than they do and very often that will greatly relieve the jaw pain. It also preserves the ware that has occurred on the teeth due to the grinding and the clenching that people who have problems with their jaw often do.
So if you're one of these people that feel like you have pain in your jaw, or that you clench, or that your grind, or your teeth are wearing down in a way in which you notice when you look in the mirror. Come and see us. We can help you with a occlusal guard and muscle therapy.
- Relax your jaw and ease tension in your neck and shoulders.
- Stop teeth grinding and potential tooth enamel damage.
- Reduce the frequency and intensity of your headaches.
- Allow you to eat more comfortably and enjoy mealtimes again.
- Make talking, yawning, and even singing more comfortable.
Get the relief you deserve. Call our team today at 804-392-0792 to schedule your appointment for TMJ help or other dental care. You’ll find our office at 10611 Greenyard Way, Ste. A – across the street from Trinity United Methodist Church in the 23831 ZIP code.
Discover Relief With a Custom Oral Device
Even though you may be suffering from TMJ pain, you may not know exactly what it is. Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are located on either side of your head. For reasons not fully understood, these complex joints can become irritated and inflamed, creating a great deal of pain. Even simple acts like talking and eating can cause TMJ sufferers shooting pain in the area of their jaw, face, and ears.
However, Drs. Felton and Smith can help. With the aid of custom night guards, we’ve allowed many patients to enjoy freedom from TMJ discomfort after they had given up hope. Your new oral appliance will fit comfortably in your mouth while you sleep. It will move your lower jaw forward just a bit to ease the tension on your TMJ. Although the action is slight, it’s enough to help your jaw relax.
Your jaw will feel better and you won’t wince in pain every time you laugh, talk, or chew. The night guard will also help eliminate teeth grinding while you sleep (which many people do without even knowing it). Less teeth grinding means less damage to your tooth enamel and can even mean fewer and less intense headaches.
TMJ treatment from Walter D. Felton, DDS can put an end to jaw pain and help you feel better. Call us today at 804-392-0792 to schedule your appointment. Or request an appointment online if it’s more convenient. We are a division of Central Virginia Dental Care.