TMJ Disorders
TMJ Disorders Walnut Creek
Effective TMJ Disorder Treatment for San Francisco Bay Area Patients
Are you plagued by headaches, jaw pain, or neck stiffness and you just want relief? You may need to contact your dentist in East Bay. You could be suffering from a disorder of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) – the main joint in your jaw.
At Coliseum Dental Walnut Creek in Walnut Creek, we have successfully treated patients from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area who were affected by TMJ disorders. Learn more about temporomandibular joint disorders and how our dentists can help you.
- Causes of TMJ Disorders
- TMJ Disorder Symptoms
- Treatment Options for TMJ Disorders
- NTI Tension Suppression System
Causes of TMJ Disorders
Problems related to the jaw joints can have various causes, although they typically occur from overuse of the jaw muscles, unbalanced activity, or muscle spasms. Some of the most common causes of TMJ disorders include:
- Bruxism (teeth grinding or teeth clenching)
- Malocclusion (misalignment of teeth)
- Jaw trauma
- Stress (often manifested as unconscious teeth or jaw clenching)
- Constant gum chewing
- Other dental problems
TMJ Disorder Symptoms
Because TMJ disorders have various contributing factors, the symptoms are not always consistent from patient to patient. However, the common TMJ disorder symptoms of patients at Coliseum Dental Walnut Creek in the East Bay include:
- Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines
- Jaw pain
- Facial pain unrelated to injury
- Neck, shoulder, or back pain
- Tooth sensitivity
- Ear problems, including earaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and clogged ears
- Minor dizziness, which may be related to ear issues
Treatment Options for TMJ Disorders
With so many causes and symptoms, Coliseum Dental Walnut Creek offers several options for sufferers of TMJ disorders, including:
- Splint appliances
- Corrective dentistry, including adjustments of bridges and crowns
- Occlusion analysis
- Medications
- NTI tension suppression system
NTI Tension Suppression System
Trigeminal Nerve System, or NTI, uses a dental device, or mouthpiece, that fits securely on either your upper or lower front teeth while you sleep. The NTI mouthpiece is designed to fit your specific bite needs.
The NTI tension suppression system used by our dentists create contact between only your incisors, keeping your molars from being able to clench as you sleep. The device also avoids opening your mouth too wide while you sleep, which could also lead to jaw problems.
Dr. Pope explains why Coliseum Dental Walnut Creek utilizes the NTI tension suppression system:
“We have on a constant basis, patients referred to us from their physicians and chiropractors for treatment of migraines, neck and jaw soreness. With the NTI appliance, we can eliminate the need for medications because we begin to solve the real problem of high-intensity clenching. Relief can be expected within a few hours to a few weeks.”
Schedule a TMJ Evaluation at Our Walnut Creek Office
If jaw pain or headaches are a constant problem for you, schedule a consultation with our skilled Walnut Creek dentist to determine if a TMJ disorder is to blame. Our dentists have helped patients from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area who were suffering from TMJ disorders. Find out how he can help relieve your pain too.
To learn more about TMJ, read our other pages/blogs:
