“How can I make this pain stop?” Millions of TMJ disorder patients ask this question after getting unsatisfactory results from their medical doctors. If you are suffering from constant neck and head pain, it can take a toll on your mood, sleep, and overall health. But don’t lose hope. A TMJ dentist in Los Angeles, California, can free you from this pain – that’s us!
Would you like to win the battle against TMJ headaches? At Downtown Dental, we offer a simple solution to relieve your pain. But first, let’s learn a thing or two about TMJ disorder.
What is TMJ disorder?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. These joints help you move your jaw when talking, eating, yawning, and chewing. Regrettably, when these joints are injured or inflamed, it causes TMJ disorder. Common causes include injury, arthritis, stress, teeth grinding, and, most commonly, poor jaw alignment.
While headaches and jaw pain are classic symptoms of TMJ disorder, other symptoms include:
- Locking of the jaw joint
- Ringing sound in the ears (tinnitus)
- Popping sound when you move your jaw
- Facial pain
- Earaches
- Stiff jaw
How we treat TMJ headaches
Since TMJ disorder is a degenerative condition that worsens over the years due to stress and bite misalignments, treating the root cause of the problem is the best approach to reduce symptoms. At Downtown Dental, Dr. Don Mungcal prescribes a nightguard that offers promising results against TMJ disorder.
Dr. Mungcal may recommend starting with a small plastic device that you wear while sleeping to open the jaws and relieve the tension in the muscles around your TMJ. It is JUST A BAND-AID – a temporary solution.
Long-term, you need to have your teeth properly aligned. When your teeth bite the right way (for you and your bone/jaw structure), that helps to relieve most of the TMJ symptoms. We can usually do this by starting with Invisalign (invisible braces to move your teeth into the proper position).
Following Invisalign, Dr. Mungcal will perform a procedure called equilibration. It is where he will place your jaws and your bite into the perfect place and then lightly reduce any areas where the teeth are not biting together correctly so that they do. This last part is unique to our office and is the golden ticket for long-term TMJ relief!
Benefits of TMJ pain treatment
Patients who have tried our TMJ pain treatment have expressed picking up many benefits, including:
- Reduced pain
- Reduced risk of dental damage
- They can enjoy their meals pain-free
- Protected ear health
- Enhanced overall health
TMJ specialist near me in Los Angeles, California
Are you ready to bid goodbye to TMJ pain? If you are in Los Angeles, CA, and the surrounding area, please dial 213-863-9464 to book an appointment with Downtown Dental. Dr. Don Mungcal offers a custom-made nightguard to align your jaw, helping you get rid of TMJ pain.
