Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
Do you ever experience unexplained pain in your face, specifically around your jaw joints? Occasional pain may seem like no big deal, but whether you have jaw pain all of the time or just sometimes, there is an explanation for it. You may not be able to figure out the cause on your own, but with the help of TMJ specialists in Greeneville at Tusculum Dental Care, you can pinpoint the cause of your pain, and then get the best treatment possible. How nice would it be to live without jaw pain? We will round out this blog today by letting you know how living pain-free is possible!
- Cavities
Tooth decay or cavities also could cause jaw pain, primarily if the infection is located in the back of the mouth. For adults with partially erupted wisdom teeth, tooth decay in these teeth is quite common, which could lead to pain that radiates into the jaw. So, if you have wisdom teeth that are partially erupted, this could be the source of your pain. You should have your teeth evaluated by the dentist to determine if your wisdom teeth could be treated or just need to be removed.
Bruxism is when you clench and grind your teeth, which most often occurs while sleeping. So, if that is the case for you, then you probably are unaware of the problem. If you wake up with sore teeth, jaws, and a headache, it could be an indicator that you have bruxism. Also, another sign is that your teeth are worn and flat on the top surface. A simple solution to protect your teeth, and alleviate stress on your jaw joints is to ask your dentist about a custom-made night guard.
- TMJ Disorder
Since we mentioned TMJ specialist, you probably already figured where this was going. Many cases of facial pain originate from the jaw joints if caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. When the jaw joints are misaligned due to an uneven bite, crooked teeth, or an injury, inflammation occurs, as well as decreased blood flow and tension that irritates the surrounding nerves. It is no wonder that TMJ disorder causes an immense amount of jaw pain!
Treatment for Jaw Pain in Greeneville
Jaw pain can be tricky to treat, especially when it is related to TMJ disorder. This is because most people who experience jaw pain or the headaches that go along with this disorder, usually visit their primary care physician for treatment. Since general practitioners usually don’t specialize in TMJ disorder, patients often are misdiagnosed as having chronic pain or migraines, which means they end up putting a “Band-Aid” on their pain by masking it with pain relievers. While this may help ease your discomfort, it does nothing to stop the occurrence of pain. Why not treat the source, not just the symptoms?
At Tusculum Dental Care, we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder, providing patients with long-term relief. We use specialized technology to be able to measure the exact degree of jaw joint malfunction so that we can customize your treatment. We aren’t in the business of masking symptoms but providing long-term relief for our patients.
If you experience jaw pain regularly, and you live in the Greeneville area, we encourage you to get an evaluation so that we can pinpoint the source of your pain, and therefore, provide you with the best treatment possible. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, just call Tusculum Dental Care at (423) 639-7575. We welcome patients of Erwin, Greeneville, Jonesborough, Tennessee.