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TMJ/TMD Therapy – Arlington Heights, IL

Reducing Chronic Jaw Pain & Improving Jaw Mobility

 

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the jaw to the skull bone, allowing for painless, unimpeded movements while speaking, chewing, and smiling. When these small, delicate joints are damaged or strained, the result can be severe discomfort and limited or complete jaw immobility. It’s essential that you contact our Arlington Heights, IL team right away if you think you may be suffering from TMJ dysfunction (TMD). The sooner we set to work repairing the damage and restoring smooth and pain free jaw movements with TMJ/TMD therapy in Arlington Heights, IL, the better.

Why Choose Westgate Dental Care for TMJ/TMD Therapy?

  • Customized Therapy
    For Teeth Grinding
  • Experienced Team
    of Experts
  • Reduced TMJ Pain
    & Discomfort

Symptoms & Diagnoses

Man in need of T M J therapy holding head in pain

An accurate diagnosis is the first step to repairing damage and renewing jaw mobility. Our team will look for warning signs of TMJ dysfunction during every six-month appointment, but please let your dentist or one of our team members know right away if you notice any of the following:

TMD symptoms:

  • Pain when moving the jaw
  • Clicking or grinding sound when moving the jaw
  • Limited mobility or inability to open the mouth (lock jaw)
  • Swelling in the jaw
  • Chronic radiating head, neck, shoulder, or back pains
  • Earaches or ringing in the ears

Treatment Options

Dentists reviewing x-rays of jaw and skull bone

At Westgate Dental Care, we offer a wide array of treatment options to help patients relieve pain and renew the full function of the jaw. We may include any combination of medication, stretching, and oral appliance therapy. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed or over the counter medications recommended to reduce swelling and discomfort. Additionally, patients may need to follow a daily jaw stretching routine to help adjust the way the jaw moves and reestablish healthy function. Additionally, we may recommend a custom daytime and/or nighttime oral appliance that holds the jaw in its most comfortable position and limits unnecessary movements that may strain or damage the TMJ. If these basic treatments are ineffective, we may need to partner with a local neuromuscular specialist, orthodontist, or oral surgeon to provide more advanced treatment solutions.