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• TMJ Treatments

• Root Canal
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TMJ FAQ's

Serving Sonora, near Stockton & Modesto

How can I minimize pain and soreness before receiving professional TMJ treatment?
For temporary relief, Sonora TMJ dentist Dr. Berger may suggest an over-the-counter pain reliever. There are also some things you can do to alleviate ongoing symptoms. Avoid sleeping on the side of your jaw that is in pain. Try to avoid heavy stressors and habits which can aggravate your condition like tooth grinding, jaw clenching, eating especially hard or chewy foods, and gum chewing. Watch your stress levels and make sure you integrate relaxation into your daily routine.

What causes TMJ?
A number of factors may contribute to or cause your TMJ dysfunction. Dr. Berger uses high-tech diagnostic techniques to pinpoint your difficulty. TMJ refers to a problem with the jaw joint alignment. Any interruption in the processes that combine to create fluid movement can lead to an imbalance.

Possible causes include:

• New dental fillings, crowns, or other work placed by a dentist without neuromuscular dentistry experience, which create an uneven bite
• Habitual grinding during sleep (bruxism)
• Weakened cartilage, leaving the jaw bone less protected from impact
• Jaw clenching (sometimes attributed to stress), leads to weakened cartilage
• Stress
• Dislocation of the jaw joint
• Genetically misaligned bite (upper and lower teeth do not meet properly)
• Arthritis – causes inflammation and swelling in the jaw joint, ligaments and muscles
• Traumatic injury

How long will TMJ treatment take?
Treatment to correct your misalignment may take days, weeks, or months. The cause will first need to be determined before Dr. Berger can give you an accurate time frame assessment. Ongoing treatments such as physical therapy will require patience to see results.

Should I seek treatment or “wait and see?”
Most patients who seek out a neuromuscular specialist are experiencing recurring symptoms that interfere with daily life and interrupt sleeping, eating, and other activities. If you've experienced only minor, intermittent soreness, there is a possibility that it may be just a temporary ache.

Swallowing, talking, eating and yawning are all actions which require the use of your jaw joints. The pressure forced upon your jaw joints with each action could exacerbate the problem.   Go with your body's instincts and schedule an appointment if your symptoms remain. We recommend you do not wait until your symptoms worsen to get it checked out.

For more information on neuromuscular dentistry, contact a Sonora dentist with TMJ experience. Call or email Dr. Berger at Central Sierra Cosmetic and Family Dentistry for a personal evaluation.