TMJ Dentistry Services in Sacramento

TMJ refers to a disorder covering pain and dysfunction of your jaw muscles. It is often very complex and difficult to diagnose and can be caused by several factors. Midtown Dental in Sacramento will help you better understand TMJ and how to best treat it.

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the complex joint that joins the jaw bone with the skull. TMD, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, is often under-diagnosed because it is so easily confused with other problems. It has been estimated that over 10 million Americans suffer from TMJ, and many people who suffer from this painful joint syndrome do not realize they have this problem.

If you are experiencing the following symptoms and have not found a lasting solution, contact our Sacramento dentists at Midtown Dental to discuss potential TMJ solutions.

  • Headaches and migraines
  • Sharp neck and shoulder pain
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Jaw joints that click and/or pop
  • Unexplained loose teeth
  • Facial pain
  • Chronic jaw pain
  • Limited jaw movement or locking jaw
  • Depression
  • Sensitive and sore teeth
  • Numbness in the fingers and arms
  • Worn or cracked teeth
  • Sleep problems
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Fibromyalgia

What Causes TMJ?

TMD/TMJ is most commonly caused by night time clenching and grinding of the teeth. It is estimated that nearly 100% of the population does this to some extent, and upwards of 60% of the population are heavy grinders. This condition is known asbruxism.

Another common reason for TMJ/TMD is excessive strain on the jaw muscles, which is caused when the jaw is misaligned. This can be caused by a number of things, such as stress or worn down areas of your teeth. Once this misalignment occurs, it affects the bones, teeth, and muscles, which is often the cause of the symptoms listed above. Only when all three components are balanced and physiologically healthy are you able to enjoy optimal comfort.

At Midtown Dental in Sacramento, we will help you restore normal and healthy jaw movement and alignment, and help you eliminate the pain and suffering associated with TMJ. Your Sacramento dentist at Midtown Dental can treat your facial and jaw muscles to restore their optimal position. By restoring your proper occlusion, or bite of the jaw, we can help eliminate the pain you are experiencing.

TMJ bone and joint view

After months of having a sore neck, jaw, and sleeping poorly, I sought out Midtown Dental to create a night guard for me to sleep better at night. Dr. Apekian mentioned that I had a minor case of TMJ, which meant I was grinding my teeth at night. Ever since I’ve had my mouth guard, I’ve slept much better and don’t have any pain when I sleep!

Call today at (916) 441–5800 to learn more about our TMJ dentistry services.