Wellesley Dental - Wellesley

TMJ Therapy in Wellesley

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint and TMD stands for Temporomandibular Disorder. TMJ and TMD are both often used to describe the conditions affecting the muscles, nerves and joints of the jaw.
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Jaw pain is not normal.

If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.

    What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
  • Headaches
  • Earaches, tenderness around the ear
  • Face or jaw pain and tenderness
  • Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
  • Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth

How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?

Diagnosis

Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.

Treatment and Relief

Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.

Alternative Treatment Options

If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.

Contact us today

to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint. If this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed we refer to that as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD for short.
Signs or symptoms of TMD include pain and tenderness in or around the ear, the jaw joint, or the muscles of the jaw, face or temples. Other symptoms are problems opening or closing your mouth, and a clicking, popping, crunching or grinding noise when you chew, yawn or open your mouth. TMDs may be linked with neck pain and headaches.
TMD is caused by a combination of factors like jaw injuries and joint disease, such as arthritis. It’s believed that bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) and head or neck muscle tension may make TMD symptoms worse. Stress is also a possible factor. However, it is not clear if stress causes TMD or is a result. Other things that may lead to TMDs are partial or full dentures that are not the right fit and certain habits such as fingernail biting and pen or pencil biting. As you can see, there are an array of different causes which makes TMD hard to diagnose. The best way to understand your jaw pain symptoms are to book an appointment.
There are many possible causes of headaches. No doctor will be able to determine the cause of your headache without a physical examination.
Most often, TMJ pain can be treated effectively with non-invasive treatments and therapies. In very rare circumstances, TMD may require surgery. Your health and happiness are both important to us. We will always present you with all of your options, work through the safest and easiest options first, and give you the final decision on what happens next.

Hear are some of the voices with great things to say about the way we do dental care!

Kids Love Wellesley Dental

Google Verified Patient Reviews

Shayna Fried
6 months ago
An overall amazing experience! My 4 year old son was so hesitant about visiting the dentist, however left eager for his next visit. Sam was beyond patient, kind and playful ensuring he had the best experience!
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Jenna Dietrich
6 months ago
Amazing dentist office. All hygienists are thorough, patient, and really great with kids. The office is very efficient in managing time for appointments and the dentists always clearly explain procedures. Highly recommend!
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Shelley Lindner
8 months ago
Great office! Prompt, efficient and kind! Samantha explained every step she was taking and why. I was engaged with my dental care from start to finish! 5 stars - would highly recommend!
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Kim Hennige
8 months ago
This office has been a lifesaver, I honestly couldn't ask for a better Denist, Hygienist and reception. Very kind all around making sure my pre med is sent out for me. And The Dentist always explains what is happening and just all around comaderie is so enlightening. I would so recommend this office for anyone.
More
Ruthann Turner
1 year ago
I am very happy with my experiences at Wellesley Dental, from the moment I walk in,with a friendly greeting to my time in the chair, I have only good things to say. Everyone tries so hard to make going to the dentist a great experience. So happy to be a patient there☀️☀️
More
Shayna Fried
6 months ago
An overall amazing experience! My 4 year old son was so hesitant about visiting the dentist, however left eager for his next visit. Sam was beyond patient, kind and playful ensuring he had the best experience!
More
Jenna Dietrich
6 months ago
Amazing dentist office. All hygienists are thorough, patient, and really great with kids. The office is very efficient in managing time for appointments and the dentists always clearly explain procedures. Highly recommend!
More
Shelley Lindner
8 months ago
Great office! Prompt, efficient and kind! Samantha explained every step she was taking and why. I was engaged with my dental care from start to finish! 5 stars - would highly recommend!
More
Kim Hennige
8 months ago
This office has been a lifesaver, I honestly couldn't ask for a better Denist, Hygienist and reception. Very kind all around making sure my pre med is sent out for me. And The Dentist always explains what is happening and just all around comaderie is so enlightening. I would so recommend this office for anyone.
More
Ruthann Turner
1 year ago
I am very happy with my experiences at Wellesley Dental, from the moment I walk in,with a friendly greeting to my time in the chair, I have only good things to say. Everyone tries so hard to make going to the dentist a great experience. So happy to be a patient there☀️☀️
More
Wellesley Dental - Wellesley

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Call 866-973-1505