TMJ Therapy in Long Valley, NJ
What is a TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, is a common issue that involves pain or discomfort in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is located near the ear and acts as part of the hinge in the jaw. One prominent sign that you could be suffering from a TMJ disorder is if you hear popping or clicking noises while you eat, speak, or yawn.
What Causes TMD?
The TMJ is located in a complicated area, and the joint itself is also very complex because it can support a horizontal and vertical motion while being cushioned by cartilage and a shock-absorbing disk. For this reason, there can be many causes of TMD.
For example, if the disk erodes or becomes misaligned, movement in your jaw might become jagged and unpredictable. TMD might also arise if the joint-protecting cartilage erodes and no longer provides proper cushion.
Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth (bruxism) can create tension in your face, neck, and shoulders. Prolonged tension in these areas can lead to muscle spasms, intensifying your TMD symptoms.
Symptoms of TMD
If you experience the following symptoms, there may be an issue with your TMJ:
- Soreness in the jaw
- Inflammation in the jawbone or joint
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Aching face and jaw
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Headaches
If you think you might be suffering from TMD, we encourage you to contact our office at (908) 850-0506. Dr. Rogler has the training and expertise needed to remedy your issue and restore your livelihood.
TMD Treatment Options
Mild cases of TMD can resolve themselves over time, but we don’t recommend leaving it up to chance. At Rogler Family Dentistry, we feature an array of treatments to help relieve your discomfort and improve the condition of your jaw, including:
- Custom Night Guard: Since TMD is often caused by teeth grinding or clenching, we can use a custom-fit mouth guard to prevent the upper and lower teeth from touching while you sleep.
- Massage Exercises: Gently massaging the TMJ areas a couple of times a day can reduce some of the discomforts. We can show you how to do this without irritating the area and causing a flair up.
- Diet Evaluation: We can also help you analyze your diet to determine if any particular foods may be too difficult to chew, making the problem worse. For example, tough meats and nuts can require forceful chewing, which places stress on the joints.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you begin to notice symptoms of TMJ disorder (TMD), such as jaw or ear pain, difficulty chewing, or locked jaw, then you should come in to see Dr. Rogler so he can perform a thorough exam.
Although your TMJ issues might seem mild now, they can progress quickly and lead to severe pain if left untreated.
TMD can interfere with your daily activities like eating and speaking and lead to chronic headaches. TMJ treatment can reduce the pressure on your jaw joints so you won’t have to live in pain any longer.
If you notice jaw pain while chewing, it’s often due to temporomandibular joint disorder, where there’s a complication with the joints connecting your jaw to your head. The most common symptoms of a TMD are jaw popping when you open your mouth or while chewing, jaw pain, headaches, and ear pain.
Your TMJs are complex areas, so the real cause of this disorder can sometimes be hard to uncover. However, some common factors that often lead to TMD include arthritis, injury, jaw tension, or stress.
If you’re experiencing ear pain while chewing or yawning, you should visit our office because this typically isn’t normal. This is a sign of TMJ disorder and should be looked at to ensure you receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Rogler offers comfortable and effective solutions to help ease your ear pain. The first step is to schedule a consultation with him so he can fully understand your condition and find a treatment that suits your needs best.
Jaw popping while chewing shouldn’t occur frequently and it’s often a sign of a disorder. Although it isn’t always a sign of TMD, it’s best to visit our Long Valley office so Dr. Rogler can see what the problem might be.
We may suggest practicing massage exercises to diminish your jaw popping, and to help prevent any TMJ issues you may have from progressing.
If you have severe TMJ disorder, you can potentially lose your hearing. Your jaw joints are located on both sides of your head, near your ears, so if there’s an issue that’s affecting your ears, your hearing can be impaired.
With the right treatment, Dr. Rogler can provide relief for your TMJ that might be able to bring your hearing back. This can be further addressed at your initial consultation at our Long Valley office.
We Can Relieve Your Pain
Living with a clicking jaw that causes pain every time you want to eat or speak is no way to live. It’s time to find a solution, and we can help!
To learn more about your treatment options, call our office, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Rogler. You can also send us a message through the form on the contact page to speak with a member of the Rogler Family Dentistry staff.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015
About our business, license, and website security
- Rogler Family Dentistry was established in 1983
- We accept the following payment methods: Cash, Check, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa
- We serve patients from the following counties: Morris County and Warren County
- We serve patients from the following cities: Long Valley , Chester, Hacketts Town , Beattys Town, Califon, Mount Olive, Budd Lake, and Flanders
- New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (License #22DI01025300). View License Information and Specifics
- National Provider Identifier Database (1184717613). View NPI Registry Information
- Healthgrades. View Background Information and Reviews
- Website Safety Ratings and Reputation – AVG Threat Labs. View Details
- Norton Safe Web. View Details
- Trend Micro Site Safety Center. View Details
Back to top of TMJ-Dentist
- Dental Office
- Dental Procedures
- TMJ Dentist
Recent Posts
When Is A Dental Crown Needed?
Dental crowns are necessary for a variety of cases. Below, we explain each of these instances in detail to help patients determine when a dental crown will prove helpful. Give this piece a read and …
When Is A Dental Extraction Necessary?
While a dental extraction is typically the last resort, people may not be aware of how necessary it can be on a regular basis. Rogler Family Dentistry will always strive to preserve the health and …
The Technology Behind Teeth-in-a-Day
Replace Missing Teeth With Dental ImplantsIf you lose many adult teeth or need us to remove multiple teeth and you cannot find a lasting solution, Teeth-in-a-Day may be the best option for you. Teeth-in-a-Day is …