TMJ Disorders

Treating Your Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Louisiana

We understand that TMJ disorders can cause pain that can interrupt your day-to-day life. At Eddleman Dental, we are committed to providing the care you need for TMJ disorders. Our goal is to help you find relief from the pain and discomfort that the disorders cause through diagnosis and treatment options.

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What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which is located in the jaw. It is the joint that connects the skull to the jaw. TMJ disorders are also commonly called temporomandibular disorders (TMD). These terms refer to a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. Common symptoms of TMJ disorders include jaw pain, headaches, earaches and trouble opening and closing the mouth.

TMJ Disorders Diagnosis

At Eddleman Dental, we know that understanding the cause of a TMJ disorder is important for providing the best-fit treatment. The disorders can be caused by several different factors, including stress, teeth grinding (bruxism), arthritis or even a misaligned bite. The most common cause of TMJ disorders is stress, since stress can cause you to grind or clench your teeth.

The diagnosis of your disorder includes:

Questionnaire: Dr. Eddleman and our team will provide you with a questionnaire to fill out, which will help us understand your symptoms.
X-Rays: If necessary, we will take X-rays of your mouth and jaw.
TMJ Exam: We will perform a physical exam of your mouth and jaw, which includes examining the TMJ joint, your bite and the opening and closing of your mouth.

Through this comprehensive process, Dr. Eddleman will diagnose the most probable cause of your TMJ disorder. This will help us find the best treatment option for your disorder so that we can help you find relief.

TMJ Disorders Treatment Options

At Eddleman Dental, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to your specific needs. After Dr. Eddleman and our experienced team conduct a thorough examination to best diagnose the cause of your TMJ disorder, we will work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Some of the treatment options include:

Non-Invasive Treatments

Relaxation Therapy: If your disorder is caused by stress or anxiety, relaxation therapy is a wonderful treatment option. Managing and reducing your stress will help prevent you from clenching and grinding your jaw and can help relieve your symptoms.
Lifestyle Modifications: Adjusting certain aspects of your lifestyle is another effective way to relieve symptoms. We recommend avoiding particularly hard and chewy foods, getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet and practicing good posture.
Physical Therapy: Targeted exercises and stretches can help improve jaw mobility, reduce muscle tension and help your overall jaw function.
Heat Therapy: Applying a warm, moist towel to your jaw for 20 minutes at a time is an effective therapy. After applying the heat, we recommend performing passive stretches for your jaw.
Medication: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories are effective ways to treat TMJ disorders. We will work with you to develop a medication plan that works best for you, which usually involves taking Ibuprofen and muscle-relaxers for several weeks.

Occlusal Appliance Therapy

Occlusal appliances, also known as splints or nightguards, are custom-fitted devices that are worn over the teeth. These appliances help reposition the jaw to reduce muscle tension and protect the teeth from grinding or clenching. These appliances include:

Centric-Relation (CR) Splint: This reduces grinding and provides stability and can be worn every night and also during the day, as needed.
Anterior-Positioning (AP) Splint: Only worn at night, this appliance repositions your jaw to help heal your joint and reduce pain.
Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibitor (NTI) Splint: This appliance reduces the muscle activity that causes grinding and clenching.

TMJ Surgery

In severe cases, more invasive treatment options may be necessary. Jaw surgery is only recommended as a last resort option if your pain is unbearable and your symptoms have not been managed through more non-invasive treatments.

Start Your Journey To Relief

If you are experiencing symptoms of TMJ disorders, we invite you to reach out to us. Our goal is to find the best-fit treatment option so that we can help you get your pain and symptoms under control. Contact us today by calling (318) 322-2013 or by filling out our online form, and a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible. We look forward to helping you gain a pain-free, healthier smile.

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Your Smile, Our Passion

Our friendly, welcoming team at Eddleman Dental is proud to offer a near-zero wait time with high-quality results using our advanced technology. We treat patients of all ages, and we love getting to know our patients and treating them like family.

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