Diagnosis and treatment for TMJ and TMD disorders in Pasadena, CA

The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are one of the most frequently used and complex joints in the body. The TMJs connect your jaw to your skull and are used every time you open your mouth to talk, laugh, chew, or make other motions with your jaw. A wide array of issues can lead to problems with the TMJs, which leads to TMJ and TMD disorders. At Pasadena Prosthodontics in Pasadena, CA, Dr. Christopher Marchack provides expert diagnosis and treatment options for patients suffering from TMJ pain.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder

While some symptoms of TMJ disorder can be clearly linked to the jaw, others are less obviously connected to the TMJ/jaw area. Common TMJ symptoms include:

• Swelling in the face
• Ear pain or tenderness
• Limited mobility in the jaw
• Pain when opening and closing the mouth or while chewing
• The feeling of a locked jaw
• Clicking, popping, or grinding in the jaw
• Headaches
• Pain in the neck, back, shoulders, and other joints in the body

Get back to doing what you love, without pain

At Pasadena Prosthodontics, Dr. Christopher Marchack understands the complexity of TMJ disorder and that what works for one patient, will not be helpful for another. Getting to the root cause of your symptoms and what is causing your TMJ pain is the first step in determining how to best treat your individual symptoms. For some patients, this may mean simple lifestyle changes such as eliminating habits like chewing on hard objects or your nails. Using a custom-made oral appliance while you sleep to reduce clenching and grinding your teeth, which places an immense strain on the TMJs may bring relief. Other treatment options for TMJ that Dr. Marchack may recommend include:

• Replacing or adjusting old dental restorations that are contributing to bite problems
• Using dental implants, dentures, or bridges to replace missing teeth
• Treating other oral health issues such as gum disease or bone loss that can contribute to extra stress on the TMJs
• Adjusting your bite through orthodontic therapy

If you have jaw pain or stiffness that may be due to TMJ disorder or are suffering from vague symptoms that don’t have a clear cause, it is important to know that you have options and do not need to live with pain forever. For effective diagnosis and treatment, call Dr. Christopher Marchack at Pasadena Prosthodontics today! Our Pasadena, CA office can be reached at 855.770.3737.