Many men and women with temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder live with painful symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life on a daily basis. Typically, conservative treatment is recommended before surgery. Drs. David Spokane and Melissa Karski in Beaver Falls, PA, can provide non-surgical TMJ treatment using an orthodontic splint. When worn as directed, this oral appliance gently repositions the jaw to alleviate tension in the jaw joints.
TMJ is often a result of excessive strain on the jaw joints.
TMJ disorder is a condition that occurs when the jaw muscles, joints, and ligaments are not functioning properly. It is often characterized by inflammation of the jaw joints. This dysfunction can be caused by misalignment, injury, arthritis, and stress, among other issues.
There are several symptoms that are often indicative of TMJ disorder, including:
Some patients may try to ignore these symptoms, especially in the beginning stages. However, TMJ disorder can have serious health consequences including:
Seeking professional treatment as soon as possible can help you prevent these issues.
This conservative treatment method is designed to shift the jaw into proper alignment, reducing tension on the joints and muscles, and encouraging normal function.
Our doctors can provide an orthodontic jaw repositioning appliance to help treat TMJ disorder. This conservative treatment method is designed to shift the jaw into proper alignment, reducing tension on the joints and muscles, and encouraging normal function.
Typically, ongoing adjustments are necessary to accommodate the changes in your bite. We may also recommend additional treatments including orthodontics to help your bite meet properly, alleviating tension in the jaw joints. TMJ surgery may become necessary if your condition is resistant to non-surgical methods.
Taking simple measures in combination with using your appliance can help you minimize pain caused by your TMJ disorder. We recommend that you make efforts to reduce the strain on your jaw by:
Throughout the course of treatment, our team is always available to address questions or concerns.
If you are experiencing jaw discomfort or other symptoms of TMJ disorder, contact us online, or call our location nearest you. Dr. Spokane is a board-certified orthodontist, and he and our team are dedicated to providing you with the highest level of care.
Highly satisfied with my child's ortho procedure. The entire process has been seamless even with the pandemic. The website and patient portal is user friendly, but should you need to call the office for any reason, a staff member always answers in a friendly manner. The Ambridge office is stunning, it's like waking into a super hero museum. Everybody's favorite super hero can be found. Dr. Spokane has a great chair side manner, upbeat and friendly. My child was nervous at first but his fear quickly went away with the super comfortable atmosphere. I recommend Dr. Spokane to all my friends and family.