Dentist in San Francisco, CA offers dental treatment for patients with TMJ/TMD
At the practice of Dr. Leo Arellano, patients in the area of San Francisco, CA and the surrounding communities can seek treatment for a variety of dental situations, including the treatment of TMJ/TMD. These conditions can greatly affect one’s quality of life and can cause a variety of issues that can only be addressed with proper treatment.
What is TMJ/TMD?
Dr. Leo Arellano describes TMJ/TMD as a malfunction of the jaw joint and its associated structures. TMJ is the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that hinges the jaw, so it can open and close. When it becomes extremely problematic, it may become a more chronic issue known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). At this point, many patients are experiencing the following issues daily:
- Clicking and popping of the jaw joint
- Locking of the jaw in the open or closed position
- Pain radiating around the jaw joint
- Chronic headaches and migraines
- Discomfort in the neck and shoulders
When these issues begin to disrupt one’s daily life, it may be time to seek a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment of TMJ/TMD
Most of our patients experience mild to moderate discomfort due to their TMJ/TMD. This can be easily addressed with the use of oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy is a specialized treatment for TMJ/TMD that can help in realigning the jaw and reducing the tension that may be caused by the condition. This special mouthpiece is worn by patients during the night when they sleep to help reduce the tightening and tension caused by the condition, including coexisting conditions such as bruxism. Bruxism is the clenching and grinding of teeth together and may be apparent when patients have teeth that are worn flat, cracked, chipped, loose, or completely fractured. In more severe cases that cannot be treated with oral appliance therapy, patients may benefit from treatment involving surgery of the jaw. This is often a last resort because it can be an invasive procedure, but for patients who do not experience effective treatment with oral appliance therapy alone, it may be the only way to address the problem at the source.
How do I know if I have this condition?
Typically, this condition is diagnosed with a medical history and background information regarding the pain and experiences patients are dealing with, in addition to a physical evaluation of the smile by a qualified TMJ/TMD dentist.
Schedule a visit today for a proper diagnosis and discussion of treatment
Conditions such as TMJ and TMD can be devastating for patients who deal with the problems day in and day out, so it is important for patients to work with a dental provider who can offer relief! Call the practice of Dr. Leo Arellano today to discuss the advantages of treatment with oral appliance therapy to reduce headaches and pain caused by this sometimes-chronic condition. Our front office team can be reached to book an appointment by calling 415-881-4343 and the office is conveniently located in San Francisco, CA at 3030 Geary Boulevard. We welcome new patients as well as current families into our state-of-the-art facility for comprehensive dental care solutions.