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
I cannot say enough nice things about this practice. They are responsive, knowledgeable, and most of all, KIND. I used to be afraid of and avoided the dentist, resulting in me needing some extensive work done. They were not judgmental, and just set about getting me fixed up. Both dentists are awesome (hope I never get asked to pick a favorite!), Kaylee is so gentle yet thorough with her cleaning, and Tori is a ray of sunshine every time I’m there. Elise was with me for my afternoon-long procedure and she made it more bearable with her kindness and attention. Save yourself a drive to a big-city dentist and get to know this local gem of a practice!
Very pleased with my first visit, everyone was so friendly and accommodating.
My visits to Pipe Creek Dental Center have always been welcoming, friendly, and professional. Tori always greets me with a pleasant smile and we talk about my flock of chickens until Kaylee calls me back for my cleaning. While Kaylee performs my cleaning, she clearly communicates with me her process to get my pearly whites looking great. Afterwards, she offers helpful tips and patiently answers all of my questions before heading back to the lobby to wrap up my visit with Tori. I cannot recommend Pipe Creek Dental Center enough. From the front desk, the hygienist, and dentists, it's always a wonderful experience!
I have suffered with dental issues for a good portion of my adult life. I've been to many dentist in my lifetime. I've been to ones that are nothing more than insurance and Medicaid mills that are scamming as much money as they can. And I've been to ones that do work that does not last. And then I found pipe Creek dental! Dr Williamson is the absolute best! Her expertise along with her bedside manner is top notch. She listens and talks with you like you're a person and not just another number in the bank account. And then to top it off her staff, like Tori, are absolutely amazing! They communicate with you and will even send you text reminding you that you have your appointment. Which I found very helpful on days that I was forgetting that I had an appointment. I cannot recommend this dental office enough. Thank you to everybody at Pipe Creek dental for the most amazing dental experience I've ever had. Nothing but love for these amazing people!
This place has been amazing!! They take great care of their patients. The staff and Dr are so friendly!! Very very grateful for such a wonderful dentist so close to home. Highly recommend checking this place out next time you need a dentist.
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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.