TMJ Treatment Upland CA |
TMJ Treatment provided by Dr. Sikka in Upland, CA at Higher Ground Dentistry
You need a healthy functioning jaw to ensure proper bite function, good oral cavity health, and healthy physical well-being. TMJ problems can however arise, often causing difficulties in chewing food, swallowing, yawning, and talking. Moreover, jaw issues can lead to chronic pain and discomfort that affects your daily quality of life.
The part of the jaw known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) functions more or less like a hinge and is likely to experience problems that lead to persistent pain. At Higher Ground Dentistry, our experienced Upland dental team understands that the TMJ allows you to move the jaw in different directions whether down, up, or sideways. If there are issues affecting the movement of jaw muscles and surrounding tissues, it may be considered TMD (temporomandibular disorder).
Our skilled dental professionals provide comprehensive TMJ treatment for active families in Upland, utilizing advanced diagnostic techniques to identify root causes and develop personalized treatment plans that restore comfortable jaw function.
If you are in Upland and ready to learn more about professional TMJ disorder treatment, call Higher Ground Dentistry at 909-946-9090 for your comprehensive consultation today!
What Causes TMD?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect the TMJ — the joint connecting your jaw to your skull — and the surrounding muscles that control jaw movement. While dental experts agree that jaw muscle dysfunction plays a central role, the exact causes can vary from patient to patient. Common triggers include accidents, trauma, or physical injury to the jaw area. Stress is another major factor — it causes facial and jaw muscles to tighten and clench, disrupting normal jaw function over time. Patients with arthritis may also develop TMD as the condition affects joint health throughout the body. Habitual jaw clenching or teeth grinding — often happening unconsciously during sleep — is one of the most common causes Dr. Sikka sees at Higher Ground Dentistry.
Want to know if stress and grinding are affecting your jaw? Read Dr. Sikka's guide: Why Does My Jaw Hurt? A Guide to Stress, Grinding & TMJ in Upland CA
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Our experienced Upland dentist will check for signs indicating TMD. The temporomandibular joint disorder causes severe pain and discomfort that can affect both facial sides. The dentist will look for jaw pain, problems chewing food, swelling in the front region of the mouth, or difficulty opening the mouth. There may also be neck pain and hearing problems. Other signs include dizziness and headaches.
When diagnosing you for TMD, a dentist examines the face, shoulder, jaw joints, and neck to determine if you have the disorder. There may be pain and tenderness occurring in areas like the face, neck, jaw joint, and shoulder. You may experience pain while speaking or chewing or when you widely open your mouth.
A physical exam may be done to check for clicking, popping, or grating sounds that appear when moving the jaw. Additionally, x-rays may be required to provide more details about the anatomical structure and positioning of the jaw.
Temporomandibular joints can also affect the gums and teeth, often causing your bite to be misaligned. Your gums may become weak and painful if you have TMD. Also, the disorder may create tooth sensitivity. It can even make your teeth brittle. Moreover, the teeth may be susceptible to periodontal disease and decay.
Treatment
Much of the treatment plan is aimed at addressing the symptoms. If pain is the problem, ice or heat packs can help but make sure you see a dentist to approve them. We may also suggest the use of a night mouthguard if clenching is causing jaw joint pain and damage to teeth. Dental treatments like dentures, crowns, braces, and bridges may also be recommended. Medication and surgery are also treatment options.
Talk to our experienced team at Higher Ground Dentistry to have your TMJ examined to determine the best treatment for TMD.
Call us at 909-946-9090 to schedule your appointment.