TMJ Therapy in Farmingdale, NY

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the spot where your jaw attaches to your skull to allow you to open your jaw easily. Sometimes, the TMJ is injured or damaged, resulting in a painful condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder or dysfunction (TMD). If you are having pain or hearing noises whenever you open your jaw, then schedule a consultation with Drs. Kahn, Ferrari, Aldieri, and their team to determine if you have TMD. At our office, Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates in Farmingdale, NY, our dental team utilizes advanced equipment to diagnose and treat your TMD to ease symptoms. Your treatment will be based on the cause of your TMD and your specific condition, but a few choices are oral appliances (night or mouth guards), bite adjustment, dental restorations, and more.

Temporomandibular joint disorder may be brought on by an injury to the jaw, years of jaw clenching and teeth grinding (bruxism), or dental malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth). Medical conditions that might cause TMD include a tumor in the temporomandibular joint or arthritis. Sometimes, the reason for TMD cannot be determined, but if you are having symptoms and signs, our dental professionals can still diagnose and treat your jaw. Some of the most typical symptoms of TMD are tenderness or pain in the jaw, spasms in your facial muscles, feeling as if your jaw is stiff or stuck, and headaches that start around your ears. Another symptom is hearing clicking, cracking, or popping whenever you open your jaw.

To diagnose a temporomandibular dysfunction, we will listen carefully to understand your concerns before performing a physical exam. During the exam, we will evaluate how your jaw moves and look for indications of teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and misalignment of your teeth. Our team will also palpate the jaw and lower face for any swelling and tenderness. We may want to have digital x-rays of your lower face or an analysis of your bite to look for underlying causes that may determine your treatment approach. Based on the examination, we will discuss your treatment choices that could include a dental appliance, orthodontics, or dental restorations (crowns or bridges).

Along with treatments to fix the underlying cause of your TMD, our team can recommend other means to ease pain and other symptoms at home. This may include a soft food diet, avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails, applying heat to your jaw, and relaxation techniques. We can also give you exercises to strengthen your jaw or prescribe medicine to relax your muscles (and to ease pain, anxiety, or inflammation).

You should continue to attend follow-up visits so we can check the progress of your TMJ therapy. If your therapy is not working, we may look at another strategy. Once your TMD has been treated, you should still schedule yearly dental examinations at Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates to keep your jaw and teeth healthy.

Pain in your jaw can make it difficult to eat, talk, and enjoy your day-to-day life. Since there are many possible causes, signs, and remedies to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), schedule a consultation at our office in Farmingdale, NY. Our dental professionals will perform a thorough examination before making a diagnosis and talking about treatment choices. Contact our team at Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates to get more information and plan an appointment.