Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
Treating Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) in Brentwood TN
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to your jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a “clicking” sound, you’ll be glad to know that these problems are more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles do not work together correctly. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.
No one treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely and treatment takes time to become effective. Dr. Urbanek and Dr. Urbina can help you have a healthier, more comfortable jaw.
Do You Have Jaw Pain You Think May be TMJ?
If you are experiencing recurring headaches, earaches, neck or jaw pain you migth have TMJ Disorder. Schedule an evaluation with a TMJ Dentist near you!
Trouble with your jaw?
TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking, or grating noise when you open your mouth, or trouble opening your mouth wide.
Do You Have a TMJ Disorder?
- Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?
- Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?
- Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches?
- Does the pain get worse when you clench your teeth?
- Does stress make your clenching and pain worse?
- Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth?
- Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat, or yawn?
- Have you ever injured your neck, head, or jaws?
- Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints?
- Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?
- Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
- Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?
- Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken or worn?
The more times you answered “yes”, the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.
TMJ Treatment in Brentwood TN
There are various treatment options for TMJ that Drs. Urbanek and Urbina can utilize to improve the harmony and function of your jaw. Once an evaluation confirms a diagnosis of TMJ disorder, Drs. Urbanek or Urbina will determine the proper course of treatment. It is important to note that treatment always works best with a team approach of self-care combined with professional care.
The initial goals are to relieve the muscle spasms and joint pain. This is usually accomplished with a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, or muscle relaxant. Steroids can be injected directly into the joints to reduce pain and inflammation. Self-care treatments can often be effective as well and include:
- Resting your jaw
- Keeping your teeth apart when you are not swallowing or eating
- Eating soft foods
- Applying ice and heat
- Exercising your jaw
- Practicing good posture
Stress management techniques such as biofeedback or physical therapy may also be recommended, as well as a temporary, clear plastic appliance known as a TMJ Device. A TMJ Device (or nightguard) fits over your top or bottom teeth and helps keep your teeth apart, thereby relaxing the muscles and reducing pain. There are different types of appliances used for different purposes. A nightguard helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension at night. It also helps to protect the cartilage and joint surfaces. An anterior positioning appliance moves your jaw forward, relieves pressure on parts of your jaw, and aids in disk repositioning. It may be worn 24 hours/day to help your jaw heal. An orthotic stabilization appliance is worn 24 hours/day, or just at night, to move your jaw into proper position. Appliances also help protect tooth wear.
What about bite correction or surgery?
If your TMJ disorder has caused problems with how your teeth fit together you may need treatment such as bite adjustment (equilibration), orthodontics with or without jaw reconstruction, or restorative dental work. Surgical options, such as arthroscopy and open joint repair restructuring, are sometimes needed, but are reserved for severe cases. Drs. Urbanek and Urbina do not consider TMJ surgery unless the jaw can’t open, is dislocated and non-reducible, has severe degeneration, or the patient has undergone appliance treatment unsuccessfully.
TMJ Services Of Brentwood
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
the Urbanek Splint is a godsend, I came to Dr. Urbanek with horrible jaw, ear, neck and headache,. My jaw echoed with a loud pop when opening my mouth. I can truthfully say that those symptoms are gone. As a plus, I no longer have neck pain either. The Urbanek splint does what it has been created to do, thank you Dr, Urbanek for god has blessed this invention.
- Alice T
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
I’ve had jaw pain for years. In high school my jaw started locking up every morning. Most of the time by noon it would be fine but it continued to get a lot worse, especially after I had my children. The pain was so unbearable I couldn’t open my mouth, I couldn’t chew on the right side of my mouth and yawning was almost impossible. I heard about Dr. Urbanek through a Facebook post in a closed mommies group. I decided to try it out because I was willin to do anything to make this pain go away. I received my splint and followed his instructions. Now, 90% of my symptoms are totally gone including jaw pain, headaches, ear pain, dizziness and shoulder pain. I feel amazing. I’m so glad I did this! If you decide to try it, FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS and it’ll be great!!
- Jodi G
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
For several years I had debilitating headaches and other symptoms related to TMJ pain. The symptoms worsened over time, and when they became unbearable I was referred to Dr. Urbanek for treatment with his proprietary device. After a short time my symptoms were virtually eliminated. It has truly been life changing. I’m so thankful for this treatment - it has been wonderful to be pain free and to know that I can reach Dr. Urbanek and his staff whenever I have questions or concerns.
- Katherine V
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
Months before I had before using the Urbanek device I suffered from ear aches - thought to be ear infections - severe, day long headaches, and jaw pain that was so bad I could barely eat. I After using the device for three weeks my TMJ symptoms were gone!
- Madajah E
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
Dr. Urbanek has made sure that everything goes smooth. I was very nervous first going in to it I thought it was going to be the worst thing in the world but Dr Urbanek told me what was going to happen and he was right it was one of the easiest things. I had terrible jaw pain and he made that pain go away. Staff very helpful also.
- Drew H
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
I have been dealing with jaw problems, headaches , and many other problems for over 25 years. My symptoms have improved tremendously since wearing his device for only 3 weeks so far. I wish I had been told about Dr. Urbanek sooner. He and his staff are great. I drive 2.5 hours for my appointments and it is definitely worth it.
- Julie G
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
When I first started this journey to figuring out why I was having so much pain in my ear and jaw and even my hearing had decreased from fullness, and the ENT drs couldn’t figure out what was going on I got extremely discouraged I had spent at least 10,000$ out of my pocket over three years between Dr appointments MRI’s and physical therapy only to have absolutely no answer. So I searched and searched symptoms until I came across TMJ and realized that it matched every symptom I had been having. So then I researched TMJ specialist and came across Dr. Urbanek. He has completely stopped my ear and jaw pain in two months. And decreased the amount of fullness and ringing in my ears significantly. At times my pain was so bad I couldn’t think straight. To have relief from the pain has been life changing after suffering for three years solid. I can’t thank Dr. Urbanek and his staff enough for helping me.
- Rachel H
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
I appreciate the doctors candor in describing the potential for resolving my TMJ pain. What began years ago with clicking in my jaw began to be periods when I could not open my mouth completely along with pain. These would come and go. Then, about a year ago I experienced pain and a locked jaw that would not go away. I tried muscle relaxers. I even used a vibrator on the pain that had spread from my left jaw to my left temple and even to the top of my head. I researched google and found many doctors who treated TMJ, but I wanted success stories and much of what I saw was that they could help, but they seemed to say it was not guaranteed. I asked my dentist who indicated she had heard of reported successes of Dr Urbanek. I made an appointment and was very pleased to get the best explanation of anyone I had heard from about what and why I might be suffering from TMJ. Having a 96+ percent success really interested me. I am a skeptical person and thought, “we’ll see”. Well I am here to tell you that nine months later I am 75 % better. Pain is mostly gone. Only thing is my mouth still hurts to try opening it up all the way, but at least now it will open to 39 of 45 when at the beginning it would only open to 30. When I came in I was not able to sleep well because of the pain. I was using heating pads. Ibuprofen, muscle relaxers, and a massager almost constantly to try to get some relief. I am a pastor of a church in Murfreesboro and find myself recommending Dr Urbanek to anyone I meet with TMJ problems. Dr Urbanek is not paying me or providing any favors for me to tell my story. I am glad to do so because I really want anyone out there who may be suffering the way I was to know, there really is hope! This is my story.
- Shelby S