TMJ Therapy in Pipe Creek, TX
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Contact UsWhat Is TMJ Therapy?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the place where your jaw connects to your skull to enable you to close and open your jaw smoothly. Sometimes the TMJ is injured or damaged, leading to a debilitating condition known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction or disorder (TMD). If you are having pain or hearing noises when you open your jaw, then schedule an appointment with Dr. Carolyn Walker to determine if you have TMD. At her office, Pipe Creek Dental Center in Pipe Creek, TX, Dr. Walker utilizes advanced tools to diagnose and care for your TMD to ease the pain. Your TMJ therapy will be based on the cause of your TMD and your particular condition, but some choices are oral appliances (mouth or night guards), bite adjustment, dental restorations, and much more.
What Are the Benefits of TMJ Therapy?
At Pipe Creek Dental Center, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) care features a number of upsides to help Pipe Creek, TX individuals achieve improved wellness. These benefits involve:
- Decreasing severe pain and soreness connected to TMJ issues
- Refining jaw utilization and mobility
- Soothing headaches, neck pain, facial pain, and earaches
- Minimizing the noise of jaw snapping or popping
- Promoting more restful sleep
- Decreasing the risk of more oral complications
- Reducing tension and apprehension levels related to persistent pain
- Improving a person's overall well-being
What to Expect with TMJ Therapy
TMD could be brought about by an injury to the jaw, chronic teeth grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching, or dental malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth). Other conditions that can lead to TMD include a tumor in the TMJ or arthritis. Sometimes the reason behind TMD is uncertain, but if you are having signs and symptoms, Dr. Walker can still diagnose and treat your jaw. A few of the most typical signs of TMD are tenderness or pain at the temporomandibular joint, involuntary contractions in your face muscles, feeling as though your jaw is stiff or stuck, and frequent headaches that start near your ears.
To help diagnose TMD, a member of our team will carefully listen to and understand your concerns before performing a physical examination. During the exam, we will assess the movement of your jaw and look for signs of teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and misalignment. They will also feel the jaw and surrounding area for any tenderness and inflammation. We may want to take digital x-rays of your lower face or a bite analysis to look for underlying causes that may determine your treatment method. Based on the exam, we will go over your treatment options, which may include a dental appliance, orthodontics, or dental restorations (crowns, bridges, and dentures).
Along with procedures to solve the root cause of your TMD, Dr. Walker can suggest other strategies to ease pain and other symptoms at home. This may include a soft food diet, avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails, heat packs on your jaw, and relaxation techniques. Dr. Walker may also give you exercises to strengthen your jaws or prescribe medicine to relax your facial muscles (and to ease pain, nervousness, or inflammation). Continue to go to follow-up appointments so Dr. Walker can check the progress of your TMJ treatment. If your treatment isn't working, she might look at another strategy. Once your TMD is treated, you should still schedule yearly dental examinations at Pipe Creek Dental Center to keep your jaw and teeth healthy.
Pipe Creek Dental Center Reviews
If you’re looking for a dentist go here!! Everyone is so sweet and makes you feel comfortable. The vibe is friendly, clean, and homie. Makes going to the dentist easy and fun! This place is awesome🙂
Very nice small town dentist. All the staff were absolutely amazing cheerful and kind. Very supportive of the US Military. Would highly recommend.
Awesome service & Awesome people. Thank you so much for taking care of old cavity filled Veterans. I definitely recommend you guys for any future dental needs. God Bless 🙏
New to the area from out of state. Saw they offered a free exam and cleaning to veterans. The minute I stepped inside they made me feel at home. All the staff are extremely nice and cheerful. The office is comfortable and clean. Will use again and highly recommend. Thankyou for all the amazing work and kind words.
I loved the service and compassion shown for my six year old daughter. The office made us feel so comfortable even when she was nervous about the procedure. Our family will be transitioning to this office. Thank you to the whole team at Pipe Creek Dental Center!
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Learn More About Pipe Creek Dental Center
About UsSchedule Your Advanced TMD Treatments
Pain in your jaw can make it hard to eat, speak, and enjoy your everyday life. Since there are lots of causes, symptoms, and remedies to treat TMD, make a consultation with Dr. Walker at her practice in Pipe Creek, TX. She will perform a detailed examination before diagnosing the problem and discussing treatment options. Contact our team at Pipe Creek Dental Center to get more information and schedule your appointment.
TMJ Therapy FAQs
Does TMJ cause headaches/migraines?
We often find that our Pipe Creek, TX patients correlate their headaches and migraines with their TMJ symptoms. It can also cause chronic inflammation and pain around your cheekbone and ear areas. If you notice these symptoms, you may wish to consult with Dr. Walker to get a diagnosis and move towards healing.
How long will TMJ therapy take?
The severity of your case may impact the length of your therapy. Mild to moderate cases may resolve more quickly than severe ones. We will provide an estimate of treatment length and TMJ severity in your consultation as well.
Where does TMJ come from?
A variety of environmental and genetic factors can contribute to the rise of TMJ. Clenching your jaw (bruxism), genetic inheritance, and poor posture all have the potential to lead to TMJ. At Pipe Creek Dental, we will likely be able to determine the cause of your TMJ in your consultation appointment.