DENTIST SERVING SOUTH OF MARKET
TMJ & SLEEP APNEA SPECIALIST

San Francisco Dental Wellness provides TMJ Treatment to patients from the South of Market area (SoMa). Call 415-781-1944 to learn more and schedule an appointment today!

If you’re looking for a specialist to help you overcome the pain and discomfort of TMJ, at San Francisco Dental Wellness, located conveniently close to the South of Market area, we can help.

With skilled evaluation and diagnosis, we can help you get the relief you need from pain, teeth grinding, and more. 

What is Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome?

Temporomandibular joint syndrome or TMJ refers to the pain in your jaw muscles and joints. The TMJ in the front of your head connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull. So, whenever you open or close your mouth, the joints are working - like a sliding hinge. But TMJ can disrupt that routine easily. Simply opening and closing your mouth can hurt. In fact, TMJ can cause additional disruptions to your health, from interrupted sleep to difficulty with your regular daily activities, too.

Neuromuscular Dentistry and TMJ

TMJ issues consist of  “the Triad” of the TM Joint, the Muscles, and the Teeth (occlusion or bite). Neuromuscular Dentistry allows the joints, muscles, and teeth to align back in a harmonious position, which will allow the jaw to heal so that the symptoms will get better. 

Chronic TMJ pain is referred to as TMJ disorder or TMD. TMD is difficult to diagnose since the symptoms aren’t always obvious—while jaw pain is the most common symptom, TMJ issues can also manifest as headaches, ear discomfort, and a number of other issues. This is why it’s important to seek a diagnosis from a dental practice that specializes in TMJ disorder near the SoMa area, like San Francisco Dental Wellness.

What are Some of the Signs You Need TMJ Treatment? 

Signs you need treatment include:

• Facial tenderness, especially around the jaw and cheeks
• Headaches or migraines
• Pain, tinnitus, or feelings of fullness in or around the ears
• Difficulty chewing
• Popping and clicking sounds when eating or opening the mouth
• Locking of the jaw

Can Stress Make TMJ Worse?

Stress does not directly cause TMD, but it can be a trigger for many people. Muscle tension, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding are all related to stress and anxiety, and they also lead to the jaw dysfunction that causes TMJ pain.

How Do You Fix TMJ?

For many individuals in the South of Market area with TMJ pain, self-managed therapy, such as switching to a soft food diet during flare-ups and using ice packs to calm inflammation, is commonly indicated as a first line of treatment. If these therapies don’t work, occlusal splint therapy, also called night guards, can help relieve symptoms by relaxing the jaw during sleep.

If your TMJ disorder is affecting your quality of life, you should seek treatment to relieve your pain and prevent permanent joint damage.

Do You Need Surgery to Treat TMJ?

Surgery is only advised when other treatment options have been exhausted and TMJ pain is severe. In most cases, TMJ pain can be effectively treated with self-managed care and night guards, both of which are non-surgical options.

How Do Night Guards Work for TMJ?

By relaxing tight jaw muscles, night guards (also known as occlusal splints) prevent you from grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw while sleeping, which often causes or exacerbates TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ disorder is one of our specialties at San Francisco Dental Wellness. We use high-quality custom-made night guards for occlusal splint therapy, which relaxes your jaw muscles and prevents bruxism (teeth grinding) while you sleep. And we are conveniently located close to the South of Market area.

Call 415-781-1944 to learn more and schedule an appointment today!

What causes TMJ?

TMJ pain can be caused by a variety of different reasons. But, the most common are:

• Serious injury to jaw or teeth
• Misalignment of your jaw
• Misalignment of your teeth
• Excessive teeth grinding or clenching of the jaw, also called bruxism
• Chronic stress leading to grinding or clenching
• Frequent gum chewing

Any of these can cause pain and other problems with the jaw joint.

What are the most common kinds of TMJ pain?

Myofascial pain is the most common type – this occurs from teeth grinding and jaw clenching, originating in the muscles around the joints.

Internal joint derangement – is usually caused by trauma to your face or jaw, or by internal issues that could involve a displaced disc or dislocated jaw.

Arthritis – Arthritis can cause pain by attacking the TMJ. 

What kinds of treatment are usually used for TMJ?

TMJ paint can usually be treated by:

• Applying cold compresses at home
• Consuming soft foods if flare-ups occur
• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• A custom night guard created by your dental team to reduce stress on the TMJ, preventing teeth grinding and jaw clenching
• Orthodontic treatment to correct bite issues
• Oral surgery, if other treatments are unsuccessful