Is your jaw causing you pain or discomfort? Well, the culprit could very well be TMJ. Also known as temporomandibular joint disorder, TMJ is a jaw condition that can cause various painful symptoms. Some of the symptoms you may be experiencing are headaches, trouble eating, pain when opening and closing your mouth, clicking in your ears, or constant discomfort on your jawline. It is crucial to address TMJ because it can easily get worse. Fortunately, Dr. Michael Chung is an experienced neuromuscular dentist who can help you find the relief you deserve.
What Is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?
You have jaw joints in front of your ears that you can feel when you open and close your jaw. These ball and socket joints feature a cartilage pad that acts act cushioning. This cushioning is there to prevent bone rubbing on the bone. Symptoms appear when something in this system is amiss. There are many different factors that can compromise this system and cause TMJ.
You can develop TMJ due to a misaligned bite. Other times, your jaw joints can get knocked out of place from a heavy blow to the head or grinding your teeth. Here are some more causes and triggers:
- Trauma
- Genetic disposition
- Diet
- Stress
- Disease
How Do I Get Diagnosed With TMJ?
Dr. Chung will use sophisticated diagnostic equipment to determine whether you have TMJ. This equipment includes the 3D Cone Beam Dental Scanner and the K7 System Evaluation System. The K7 System gathers information about your jaw movements, muscular activity, and jaw joints. That information will also be used to help plan your customized TMJ treatment.
What Be Will My Treatment After The Diagnosis?
You will start experiencing relief right after your diagnosis. Dr. Chung will relax your jaw muscles with a TENS unit. After that, your jaw will be in the correct position. The goal is any subsequent dental work is to make that relaxed position permanent and relieve your symptoms long-term.
Call to Schedule Your TMJ Consultation
Contact Softouch Dental Care today by calling 703-747-9734 to schedule a consultation with our Northern Virginia area dentist. We happily welcome patients from Oakton, Vienna, McLean, and surrounding communities.
