{"id":465,"date":"2024-12-04T22:48:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T22:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=465"},"modified":"2025-01-28T22:50:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T22:50:42","slug":"tmj-chronic-dental-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/04\/tmj-chronic-dental-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"TMJ Disorders: The Chronic Issue You Didn\u2019t Know Your Dentist Can Treat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"Dentist smiling brightly while standing in a treatment room\" class=\"wp-image-466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image.png 509w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It makes perfect sense to visit your dentist when you\u2019re experiencing a toothache or other dental problem, but you\u2019re pretty sure you\u2019ll need a different type of doctor for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/preventive-dentistry.html#tmj:~:text=GUM%20DISEASE%20THERAPY-,TMJ%20Therapy,-In%20the\">chronic jaw pain.<\/a> Right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Actually, dentists are qualified to treat many cases of jaw pain! If the underlying issue is your TMJ, your dentist has a couple of different possible solutions up their sleeve. Keep reading to learn more about the chronic discomfort you didn\u2019t know your dentist can treat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is TMJ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply put, TMJ is an abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint \u2013 and TMJD is short for temporomandibular joint disorder. This joint is located towards the back of your jaw, and acts like a hinge for upper and lower mandibula. It\u2019s the reason you\u2019re able to open and close your mouth. If you have chronic jaw pain, it could be because physical stress is being exerted on your TMJ and transferred to the connecting jawbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Does My Dentist Treat TMJDs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Technically, your TMJ is part of your oral cavity, making it part of your dentist\u2019s domain. Plus, sometimes the thing exerting stress on the TMJ is teeth! Bruxism (which is a fancy word for teeth grinding and clenching) instances put significant pressure on your pearly whites that makes it all the way to your TMJ and jawbone, causing discomfort or stiffness. A misaligned bite can create a similar effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a TMJ Treatment Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It depends on your unique oral situation \u2013 in other words, it depends on what\u2019s actually causing your jaw pain. Generally speaking, though, your dentist might recommend one of two treatments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wearing a custom nightguard while you sleep.<\/strong> This puts a barrier between your teeth and any bruxism instances, softening the blow to your TMJ.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Orthodontics like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/invisalign.html\">Invisalign.<\/a><\/strong> If the problem is a misaligned bite, shifting your oral structure into a more ideal position will likely provide relief.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In either case, it\u2019s your dentist that you should consult for jaw pain. They\u2019ll take a close look at your teeth, looking for signs of bruxism or misalignment. Once they have a diagnosis, you can bet they\u2019ll keep you informed and help you choose the best treatment plan for restoring your oral comfort!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Christopher Capehart<\/a> earned his doctor of dental surgery degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He stays on top of the latest technology and techniques in dentistry, including TMJ therapy treatments. If you\u2019re experiencing chronic jaw pain, Dr. Capehart will gladly examine your mouth and provide treatment so you can return to a discomfort-free routine. To <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capehartdentistry.com\/contact-us.html\">contact<\/a> his office, call 972-436-1325.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It makes perfect sense to visit your dentist when you\u2019re experiencing a toothache or other dental problem, but you\u2019re pretty sure you\u2019ll need a different type of doctor for chronic jaw pain. Right? Actually, dentists are qualified to treat many cases of jaw pain! If the underlying issue is your TMJ, your dentist has a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>TMJ Disorders: A Problem for Your Dentist | Capehart Dental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did you know that your dentist can treat chronic jaw pain? 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