TMJ Therapy in Melbourne, FL

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the spot where your jaw connects to your skull to allow you to close and open your jaw easily. Sometimes the TMJ becomes injured or damaged, resulting in a painful condition called temporomandibular joint dysfunction or disorder (TMD). If you are experiencing pain or hearing noises when you move your jaw, schedule a consultation with experienced dentist Dr. Sangiv I. Patel to determine if you have TMD. At his practice, Sangiv I. Patel, D.D.S., PA in Melbourne, FL, Dr. Patel uses the most advanced equipment in the field to diagnose and treat your TMD and ease your pain. Your TMJ therapy will be based on the cause of your TMD and your specific condition, but some treatment options include oral appliances (mouth or night guards), bite modification, dental restorations, and more.

Temporomandibular joint disorder might be brought on by a single injury to the jaw, grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw (bruxism), or a misaligned bite (dental malocclusion). Medical conditions that might lead to TMD include a tumor in the TMJ or arthritis. In some cases, the reason for TMD is uncertain, but if you are experiencing signs and symptoms, Dr. Patel can still diagnose and treat your jaw utilizing innovative methods and technology. The most common symptoms of TMD are pain or tenderness in the jaw, spasms in your facial muscles, feeling as if your jaw is stiff or stuck, and headaches that start near your ears. Another key symptom of TMD is hearing cracking, clicking, or popping whenever you open your jaw.

Dr. Patel will carefully listen and understand your concerns before performing a physical examination. During the exam, he will assess the movement of your jaw and start looking for indications of misalignment, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding. He will also feel the jawbone and surrounding area for any tenderness and inflammation. To aid him in the detection and diagnosis of your TMD during your examination, Dr. Patel will refer to:

• Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) to analyze the sounds of the joints accurately
• Electromyography (EMG) to evaluate muscle activity, such as muscle contracting
• Bite Analysis (T-Scan Digital Bite Analysis) to test for malocclusions (bad dental alignment or a bad bite)
• NTI: Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension Suppression System to monitor jaw clenching activity

The use of these technologies will help Dr. Patel determine the underlying cause of your temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). From there, he will be able to offer you the most accurate treatment possible utilizing evidence-based solutions for your issue.

Along with procedures to fix the underlying cause of your temporomandibular joint disorder, Dr. Patel can recommend other means to ease pain and other symptoms at home. This includes a liquid or soft food diet, avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails, heat packs on your jaw, and relaxation techniques. Dr. Patel can also give you exercises to strengthen your jaw or prescribe medicine to relax your muscles (and to ease pain, anxiety, or inflammation).

Continue to attend follow-up visits so Dr. Patel can check the progress of your TMJ therapy. If your treatment is not helping, he may consider a different approach, such as TMJ surgery. Once your TMD has been treated, you should keep attending your annual dental exams at private practice Sangiv I. Patel, D.D.S., PA to maintain your oral health.

Dental insurance coverage for TMJ pain diagnosis and TMD remedies will vary so we will contact your carrier to calculate your out-of-pocket costs. Whether you have dental insurance or not, Dr. Patel will go over cost estimates when reviewing treatment options. To make all treatments affordable, Sangiv I. Patel, D.D.S., PA accepts many payment methods, and we can help you find low-interest medical financing.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain makes it tough to chew, speak, and enjoy your day-to-day life. Since there are many possible causes, symptoms, and solutions for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), schedule a consultation with Dr. Sangiv I. Patel at his office in Melbourne, FL. He will give you a thorough examination before your diagnosis and discussing treatment options. Contact our facility to get more information and plan an appointment.