Comprehensive General & Cosmetic Dentistry
with Dr. Julie Valentine, DDS
on Google
TMJ Treatment
Neuromuscular Dentistry for Whole-Mouth Health
Your chewing system works in tandem with your jaw joints, or temporomandibular joints. These small, triangular joints control the motion of your jaw. If the TMJs are misaligned, the associated nerves and muscles endure added stress, which causes pain.
Trained in neuromuscular dentistry, Dr. Valentine does more than just clean teeth and fill cavities. Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on the relationship between your teeth, gums, muscles, nerves, and bite (how upper and lower teeth fit together). If your bite becomes misaligned, you can damage teeth and develop nagging symptoms, like neck pain, headaches, pressure in the ears, and tingling in the extremities. TMJ dysfunction can also cause bruxism, or teeth grinding, which results in premature tooth wear and fractures.
With neuromuscular TMJ treatment, Dr. Valentine can correct jaw position and alleviate discomfort. She will analyze your bite and identify the optimal position for your jaw joints. Then she will design a course of action to restore the joints to proper position. Non-surgical TMJ treatment may involve rebuilding your back teeth to restore occlusion or wearing a custom-made oral appliance to hold your bite in the correct position. Sometimes, habit changes (not chewing gum, for instance) and stress-reducing exercises can help, as well.
Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Earaches
- Popping Jaw Joints
- Limited Jaw Motion
- Pain in the Jaw or Face
- Neck, Back, Shoulder Pain
Make Your Appointment Today!
Call our Beverly Hills dental office (310-551-2955) located in East Beverly Hills, CA and reserve your no-cost personal consultation. Dr. Valentine and our friendly team believe that every patient seeking affordable family and cosmetic dentistry deserves to feel good, look good, and enjoy a lasting, healthy smile.