TMJ Treatment
Seattle, WA
 If you are experiencing jaw pain or discomfort, our dentists have experience treating issues that affect the alignment of your jaw and temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Dr. Starks or Dr. Ip will examine your TMJ for irregularities during your comprehensive or periodic exam in order to detect signs of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
What Does the Temporomandibular Joint Do?The purpose of your TMJ is to allow your mouth to move both up and down and side to side. When it is properly aligned, your teeth meet in their optimal bite position, allowing regular functions such as chewing and speaking to occur properly and without discomfort.
Normal TMJ function is essential not only for chewing and speaking but for overall comfort in your jaw. When your TMJ is misaligned, you may experience headaches, extreme pain in the jaw, and ear or sinus infections. We can identify and treat these alignment issues so that you do not experience additional concerns associated with TMD.
How is TMD Treated?There are several treatment methods available to treat TMD.
Custom created mouthguards are crafted using a special machine that tracks the movements of your jaw. While you sleep, the mouthguards work at realigning your jaw and over time, they can permanently align your jaw to its optimal position. Full mouth restoration is an option for some patients. Full mouth restoration may be best suited for patients whose TMD cannot be treated with traditional mouthguards, or who have additional cosmetic concerns.
Our dentists have extensive experience in helping to reduce pain and perfect your smile. We will work closely with you to determine the treatment plan that is most ideally suited to your individual needs. |
