If you experience jaw pain, you may be struggling with TMJ disorder. Our dentists and team offer neuromodulator injections to help with the effects of TMJ disorder and relieve pain. If you would like to learn more about TMJ therapy in Columbia, Missouri, contact Willett Dental Associates at 573-445-5300 for an appointment with Dr. Jenna Miller.
TMJ disorder refers to when your temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your lower jaw to the rest of your face, experiences injury, stress or misalignment. TMJ disorder is often referred to as TMJ or TMD. Head, neck or jaw injuries, teeth grinding, stress, or arthritis in your TMJ are factors that play into TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder often results in recurring facial or jaw pain.
TMJ can also lead to the following effects:
- Hearing grinding or popping sounds when you open your mouth
- Lacking the ability to open your mouth wide to chew, talk or yawn
- Feeling like your jaw is stuck or locked
- Experiencing pain when you chew or bite down on something
- Having pain in your shoulders, neck and ears
- Having a lot of headaches
To treat TMJ disorder, we utilize neuromodulation. With this nonsurgical treatment, you will receive neuromodulator injections into your jaw muscles. The neuromodulators work to temporarily block pain signals that travel between the nerves and the muscles, allowing you relief. If you constantly grind your teeth, a condition known as bruxism, neuromodulators can help by relaxing your jaw, resulting in less grinding and thus less damage caused to the TMJ.
If you would like to learn more about how neuromodulation works, contact us today to schedule an appointment with our dentists.