About us
Do you experience a dull, aching sensation that extends from your ear to your chin when you first wake up? Or do you have jaw pain while you chew or speak? These are indicators that you might have a TMJ condition. Dr. Smitherman welcome you to become a patient at Nonsurgical TMJ Austin! We use cutting-edge dental technology to provide excellent TMJ care and a pleasant, relaxing experience.
We take pride in caring about our patients. We love doing an amazing job of making your experience at TMJ clinic enjoyable and maintaining enduring relationships with all of our patients.
She has a love for helping patients with these problems and has received significant training in treating sleep apnea, snoring, and TMJ difficulties. Dr. Smitherman regularly attends the Spencer Study Club, which is dedicated to studying sleep and TMJ disorders and keeps up with current therapeutic approaches.
At TMJ doctor Austin TX, we will create a unique treatment plan just for you. To create a plan that has the highest potential of swiftly reducing your pain and averting further damage in the future, they will take into account your medical history, your clinical findings, and your prior experiences.
For patients who have failed to respond to treatment from a single practitioner, for doctors who have become disenchanted with treatment from a single modality, and for patients who want to receive the best care possible right now, our combination treatment plans are the solution.
Chaos. Stigma. Misinformation. When you have TMJ Disorders, there is much more to manage besides symptoms, and there aren't always straightforward solutions. However, there is strength in truth and support, and we are here to offer both.
TMJ - Symptoms and Signs
If you are experiencing any of the below signs or symptoms come in to speak with our TMJ doctor in Austin TX.
1) Teeth and Mouth: Bruxism, sense of loose or brittle teeth, discomfort when chewing, dry mouth, hot or scalded mouth.
2) Joint noises or snaps, jaw muscle soreness, restrictions in the mouth's opening, jaw displacement during mouth opening, dislocations or blocks during mouth opening/closing, and inflamed muscles are all examples of mandibular issues.
3) Headache or facial discomfort: Back/top of the head pain, false migraine, frontal area headaches, nasal obstruction.
4) Eyes: Aches, phobic reactions, and poor eyesight.
5) Ear: Noises, hearing loss, ear pain, itching, and vertigo
6) Throat: Burning, swelling, congestion, and swallowing issues
7) Neck and back: Inflammation of the muscles, decreased mobility
Non-Surgical Treatment's Advantages
Our TMJ clinic non-surgical treatments options provide substantial advantages for those with TMJ problems. These forms of treatment are non-invasive, reversible, and do not require the lengthy recovery period associated with surgery. The cost of non-surgical treatment methods is typically lower than that of surgery.
TMD surgery might exacerbate an issue with the jaw joint and doesn't always result in a cure. It is seen as a final option. Preserving the natural joint structure is preferable versus cutting, removing, or replacing any portion of it wherever this is possible.
- The majority of TMD patients improve with straightforward non-surgical therapy.
- Face nerve damage can occasionally cause a partial loss of facial muscle action or sensation.
- Injury to adjacent tissue, including the blood vessels, the base of the skull, or hearing-related anatomy
- Infection at the surgical site before, during, or after the procedure
Your Options for Treatment
Dr. Smitherman performs a non-surgical procedure to lessen your discomfort and enhance the health of your jaw, depending on the severity of your symptoms and your lifestyle. Non-surgical TMD therapies range from at-home care strategies to unconventional approaches like BOTOX®.
Care at Home
Our doctor may recommend these self-care methods used at home can often relieve TMD symptoms that are mild to moderate. Typical home care procedures include:
- Using over-the-counter drugs like aspirin or Tylenol®
- Avoiding jaw movements that strain the joints, including yawning widely or chewing gum excessively
- Improving posture
- Applying wet heat or ice to the jaw joints
- Using relaxation and stress-reduction approaches
- The stress exerted on your temporomandibular joints might be reduced by altering your diet. Consuming less tough meals that require a lot of chewing will relieve tension on your tmjs and lessen pain.
Mouthguards
An individually made mouthguard covers the teeth to stop clenching and grinding. Our dentist may advise either a straightforward mouthguard to prevent you from grinding your teeth or a more sophisticated guard especially made for TMD, depending on the symptoms you encounter.
Orthodontics
Your dentist could advise orthodontic therapy, such as a splint, braces, retainers, or Invisalign®, if your TMJ condition is caused by a misalignment. With the help of these procedures, you can realign your smile for a more comfortable bite, which will help with your problems.
Jaw Exercises
Your dentist can give you specific exercises to learn how to manage your jaw muscles and stop clenching based on an analysis of your jaw. Many times, these easy workouts are carried out in front of a mirror.
Physical Treatment
Your dentist or doctor might suggest that you see a physical therapist if you have TMD symptoms that don't go away. A physical therapist might combine different therapies to help you feel better. Along with stretches and exercises, physical therapy frequently uses ultrasound, moist heat, and ice as treatments.
What if TMJ is left untreated?
Without treatment, TMD can cause the jaw to lose its bone mass and cartilage permanently. While the jawbone may decay, the cartilage that cushions the joint may deteriorate. This leads to uncomfortable jaw friction and raises the risk of jaw dislocation.
Hearing issues: Your jaw joints are all situated beneath your ears. As a result of the auditory nerves in your ears being damaged by joint inflammation, you may experience hearing loss or tinnitus.
- Changed facial appearance: Jawbone erosion can noticeably alter your face's proportions when severe TMD is untreated for a long time.
- Dental erosion: Patients will experience wear and tear on their teeth as bruxism gets worse, including flattened biting surfaces and little cracks.
- Migraines and other painful headaches can be brought on by untreated TMD.
- Malnutrition: Patients may change their diet to avoid eating items that are difficult to chew when their jaw pain gets worse. Patients may limit their diet to liquids and soft meals if the pain is too intense, which might eventually result in malnutrition.
Living with TMJ can be difficult because it affects not only your sleep but also your emotions and eating habits. If patients use drugs or alcohol to relieve their pain, untreated TMJ can result in other medical issues such sleep disorders, sleeplessness, or addiction to drugs or alcohol. Additionally, teeth grinding can result in dental issues like a swelling jaw, worn-down enamel, and chipped teeth. In extreme circumstances, some people have discovered that their hearing is deteriorating. While these symptoms may seem alarming, identifying them and coming in to see our TMJ dentist will greatly lower your likelihood of developing further issues.
GET TMJ RELIEF TODAY!
This one-time appointment is the first step to determining the root cause of your TMJ and alleviating your pain and discomfort.
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