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    Cazes Family Dentistry - Long Valley

    TMJ Therapy in Long Valley

    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.
    Call 908-503-5819

    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.

    Samantha F

    I was in severe pain and they took me that same night that I called. I had run out of options and didn't know what to do, the pain was unbearable. They were very thorough and personable, even going above and beyond to comfort me as I cried on the phone! We will definitely go back and I'm considering switching to them for regular dental check ups now!

    Sal P

    Dr. Jay and Dr. Janice are very professional and very caring, as is the entire staff, in the treatment of their patients. A visit to their practice is like visiting friends. I highly recommend their
    excellent dental services.

    Matthew B

    Dr. Jay from Cazes Family Dentistry is a remarkably knowledgeable and stand up individual. There is no better person to operate on your teeth/mouth than someone who is one of the top dentists in the country! Thank you Dr. Jay for offering your suggestions and advice giving me the knowledge I need to effectively approach my situation! You will not be disappointed with Cazes family dentistry.

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    Cazes Family Dentistry - Long Valley

    Request an Appointment Today

    Call 908-503-5819