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Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry > Services > TMJ Disorders

You don't have to live with constant jaw pain -- there are treatments available at our Wilmington dental office!

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Find relief from teeth grinding and TMJ pain

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TMJ Disorders in Wilmington, DE

Have you been experiencing any of these symptoms lately?

Insomnia
Headaches
Earaches when you first wake up in the morning
Facial pain
Sore jaw muscles
Damaged tooth enamel
Loose teeth

Believe it or not, some or all of the above symptoms can be attributed to problems with (TMJ) temporomandibular joint disorder. The resulting discomfort from this disorder can be attributed to a wide range of habits that you may not realize you are doing. Grinding, sliding your teeth back and forth over each other, clenching your teeth, or holding them too tightly together can all contribute to the symptoms of TMJ problems. This can happen at any age and can cause real trauma to your teeth.

Dr. Justison can diagnose these problems by looking for areas on your teeth that are unusually worn down. If you have regular check-ups, this can be detected early before too much damage occurs.

A comfortable night guard can be custom-made by Dr. Justison from soft material to fit your teeth. It will relieve the pressure from the grinding and clenching, which will eventually damage your delicate jaw joints.

You may also require some reshaping of "high spots" on one or more teeth. For more serious cases, biting surfaces may have to be reshaped or resurfaced with inlays or crowns.

Your pain can be relieved by paying attention to the symptoms and seeing your Pike Creek, DE dentist regularly.

Benefits of TMJ Disorder Treatment

Living with TMJ disorder symptoms can be painful, disruptive, and reduce your quality of life. That's why treating them promptly is so crucial and offers many benefits.

Relieves Chronic Pain

Individualized TMJ treatment relieves symptoms such as jaw pain, headaches, earaches, and muscle tension caused by clenching and grinding. By addressing the underlying causes, patients experience improved comfort and a better quality of life.

Protects Teeth

Left untreated, TMJ disorders can lead to tooth wear, tooth fractures, and joint damage. Custom night guards and adjustments prevent further damage, reducing pressure on the teeth and jaw, preserving oral health, and preventing costly restorative work.

Restores Function

TMJ treatment restores the ability to chew, speak, and open one's mouth without discomfort or restriction. This is especially important for those experiencing jaw locking or limited mobility, as it ensures that pain or stiffness no longer impacts daily activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get frequent head or neck aches and hear a click when I open my mouth?

You may share a common problem with many other people who have TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). There is a complex system of ligaments, muscles, and bones that, if not allowed to work together properly, can result in pain around the jaw and ear, tenderness, clicking or popping when you open your mouth, a sensation that the jaw is sticking or locked, and certain types of neck and headaches.

What Is an Occlusal Guard?

Your dentist can determine the cause and recommend treatment appropriate for you. Treatment often includes an occlusal guard, which is an appliance you wear while sleeping. It fits on your upper or lower teeth and relieves the muscular spasms associated with this disorder.

Contact Out Dental Office to Learn More

If you have jaw pain and don't know where to turn to give Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry a phone call today! Our friendly dental staff are ready to answer any and all questions you may have about TMJ/TMD disorder, so let's get started!

I am not sure it is worth spending the money on a nightguard. What is the real benefit?

Besides protecting your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), eliminating muscle pain, relieving headaches, and protecting the enamel on your teeth, there are sizable financial savings to using a nightguard versus taking care of dental problems that may arise from not using one.

What Is The Cost of a Nightguard?

Let's do the math. A nightguard will cost about $650. The cost of a single crown that will be needed to protect a tooth that has lost its enamel because of constant grinding is about $1200. Multiply this by six (or more) teeth, and you are approaching $10,000. If there is damage to the joint itself, an operation to repair the joint can cost about $30,000.

Call Our Dental Office to Learn More

The decision to simply protect your teeth and joints with an inexpensive night guard seems like a good decision both economically and medically. If you would like to learn more information about nightguards, call Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry today! Our entire dental team is thrilled to meet you and the entire family.

I have unexplained headaches and neck aches. Can you help?

Your problem may be caused by a misalignment of your lower and upper jaws. In dentistry, this is called TMD or temporomandibular dysfunction.

What Are The Symptoms of TMJ/TMD?

Some of the more common symptoms may include popping and clicking of one or both of the temporomandibular (jaw) joints located in front of each ear. Also included are stiff muscles of the neck and face, difficulty in opening or closing the mouth, and frequent headaches.

Contact Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry to Learn More

Your jaw joints are complex ball-and-socket joints with a disc in between the bones that acts like a shock absorber. This joint complex can become damaged due to teeth grinding, stress, clenching, poor posture, worn or misaligned teeth, or traumatic injury such as a whiplash. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you can call this dental office or any dentist who has training in joint pathology.

I often awaken with an earache. Could grinding be the problem?

Absolutely! Earaches of this nature may be due to the intense contraction of the jaw muscles as you clench your jaw or grind your teeth while you are sleeping. The muscle that connects to the ear will suffer as well as your jaw and teeth! Sometimes a bite adjustment or a comfortable night guard, especially contoured to your teeth, will completely alleviate your discomfort.

Learn more about how we can help with teeth grinding and TMJ symptoms here.

I have had headaches repeatedly. Could they be related to my teeth?

The possible causes of headaches are numerous. Sometimes headaches can be caused by the upper and lower teeth not fitting together properly.

When Your Bite Isn't Aligned

A poor bite can disrupt the normal activity of the jaw joints and muscles, creating muscle pain and headache. By wearing a comfortable, removable appliance that is custom-made to fit the teeth, many times the pain can be eliminated.

Night Guards Help!

The appliance allows the lower jaw to assume its most relaxed, physiologic position and allows the muscles to rest. Balancing your bite and/or aligning your teeth often provides long-term relief.

Give us a call today to learn about how your Pike Creek dentist at Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry can help!

A True Story – "I Can't Open My Mouth!"

Recently, a young college student came into my office in tears. She was in extreme joint pain and was unable to open her mouth. Upon examination and discussion with the patient, it became clear to me that the severe muscle spasms that were causing her pain were due to chronic clenching and grinding.

One of the obvious remedies to alleviate the pain resulting from constant bruxism (grinding) is to make a night guard for the dental patient. However, in the case of this young co-ed, the muscle spasms prevented her from opening her mouth wide enough for an impression to be taken. I advised her to take four basic immediate actions, which you could also try if you are experiencing similar symptoms:

Apply moist heat to both sides of the face four times a day for twenty minutes. This will improve the blood flow to the temporal mandibular joint muscles (TMJ), which will help to diminish the spasm.
Limit caffeine intake because it is a general body stimulant and will make the spasms worse.
Maintain a soft diet so as not to trigger more muscle spasms.
Take 400 mg of ibuprofen every six hours with food to help reduce the inflammation.

Above all, do not chew gum as this will only increase your acute discomfort.

In extreme cases, such as the case of this college student, a muscle-skeletal relaxer can be prescribed by your dentist to help interrupt the spasm cycle. This is not meant to be long term.

Once the patient can open her mouth wide enough to allow an impression to be taken, a personalized night guard can be designed to fit comfortably and prevent the grinding that is the culprit in causing the pain.

Recently, I Received This Question From a Dental Patient:

My 13-year-old is constantly biting various objects (including her nails) and complains about having pain in her jaw, difficulty opening her mouth very wide, and headaches. If she stops biting her nails and other objects will this pain go away?

The short answer is: possibly. A recent study by researchers at two universities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, actually linked such functional habits as nail-biting, clenching, grinding, lip or object biting, gum chewing, joint noises, and difficulty opening the mouth with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain. Headaches were another common symptom, as well as facial fatigue and even "locked jaw." Your daughter's pain can be alleviated by using a night guard. This is a very comfortable appliance that looks like an orthodontic retainer.

Get TMJ Treatment in Pike Creek, DE

We can evaluate your daughter's symptoms through a clinical exam. The night guard will help to eliminate the effects of the grinding and clenching, and she may find that she stops the nail-biting and other bad habits. Relief is on the way!

Reach out to Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry for detailed information on TMJ disorders, or schedule your appointment today to begin addressing your symptoms and restoring comfort.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Jason Justison

Dr. Justison grew up in Pike Creek, Delaware, just around the corner from the office. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology, minor in chemistry from University of Delaware, researching cancer biology, physics, and biochemistry. He then went on to dental school at Temple University in ...

Featured Blog Posts - TMJ Disorders

June 25, 2023

What Is TMJ and What Causes It?

A man receiving a dental exam | TMJ treatment Wilmington, Delaware

If you suffer from head, jaw, or neck pain, you might suffer from problems with the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ.

The TMJ is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull and facilitates jaw movement. TMJ issues typically arise due to misalignment between the joint and the teeth and ...

Unexplained Headaches and Neck Aches?

Do you ever awaken with a headache or neck ache for no apparent reason? Your problem may be rooted in a misalignment of your upper and lower jaws. This can result in a temporomandibular (TMD) dysfunction. Other symptoms can include popping and clicking of the joints located in front of ...

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Have you tried everything to relieve your bruxism (grinding) and are still plagued with the resulting headaches or tightness and soreness of your jaw muscles?

A study presented by Dr. Joseph Jankovic, professor of neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, offers an alternative. A small group of patients (thirteen) were injected ...