If you’re experiencing jaw pain, a clicking sound when chewing or swallowing, or trouble opening and closing your mouth, it could be a sign of TMJ. This disorder affects the temporomandibular joint, which connects your lower jaw to your skull. Symptoms vary by patient.

Eating soft foods and applying ice can provide temporary relief. A professional consultation can help to identify and address the underlying cause of your TMJ.

TMJ Examination

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the lower jaw to the skull. They control jaw movement and allow you to talk, chew, yawn and open your mouth. Problems with the tmj dentist san felipe st Houston can lead to jaw pain, clicking sounds when opening or closing your mouth, and trouble chewing food. These problems can also cause headaches and earaches. The pain and discomfort of TMD are often mistaken for sinus or neck issues.

TMJ relief is possible when you see a dentist who is trained to treat the disorder. Houston Dentists at Post Oak offer a noninvasive digital TMJ examination, and a computerized bite test to assess the connection between your jaw, teeth and muscles.

Dr. Martinez is one of fewer than 300 board-certified specialists in Orofacial Pain and TMJ. His expertise in TMD is augmented by his extensive training and experience at the University of Kentucky Orofacial Pain Center. He has also taught Orofacial Pain at UTHealth School of Dentistry.

Orthotic Adjustments

Ruby, our hygienist, has over 4 years of dedicated service to oral care and is a Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler. She is a graduate of HCC Coleman and takes pride in her work, delivering comprehensive patient care.

Dr. Martinez has received extensive training in tmj dentist san felipe st houston, Orofacial Pain and Orthodontia. He is a strong advocate of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, collaborating closely with medical and dental colleagues to provide the best possible care for his patients.

Occasionally orthotic devices may require minor adjustments to improve comfort and function. Some examples of these include altering the arch height, adding cushioned layers or progressive posting to alter the tilt of the device. This is typically done at the first orthotic check 3 weeks after initial dispensing. These adjustments can significantly reduce symptoms in the majority of patients. These changes are complimentary to our treatment options and may significantly improve your quality of life. These adjustments are not covered by insurance.

TMJ Treatment Options

Many patients with TMJ experience pain when chewing and biting. They may also have clicking sounds when they open and close their mouths or feel limited movement of the jaws. Pain in the head or neck, earache or headaches are also common symptoms.

These symptoms are caused by daytime jaw over-use behaviors such as chewing gum, biting nails or cuticles, clenching the teeth, gnawing on non-edible items, and cheek and lip biting. These habits can overwork the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints and lead to wear of the cartilage that lines the joint.

The first step in TMJ treatment is to identify and break these over-use habits. Other treatments for TMJ include oral splints and physical therapy. Physiotherapy includes a comprehensive assessment of the symptoms, looking at your jaw movement, testing movements that aggravate or relieve the pain and feeling around your mouth for tender areas called trigger points. These are tight knots of muscle that when massaged relax and release the pain.

TMJ Relief

Besides addressing the specific symptoms of TMD (including jaw pain, headaches, and ringing in the ears), our dentist will also perform treatment to improve your overall jaw function and reduce future problems. This may include soft foods, avoiding chewing gum, and practicing strengthening and stretching exercises for your jaw. We can also use Iontophoresis, which delivers pain-alleviating medication to the affected muscles through an electric current through your skin.

Myofascial pain originates from your muscles and fascia surrounding the temporomandibular joints. This pain may radiate to your neck and head, causing headaches, earaches, or numbness or tingling in your arms and fingers. Physical therapy and a specialized massage can alleviate these symptoms. We can also use trigger point injections, which release tense knotted muscles. Moreover, we can also perform BOTOX, which relaxes your facial muscles and eases TMJ pain. These treatments are performed by our board-certified specialist in tmj dentist san felipe st Houston and Orofacial Pain. He is one of the few experts in this field, and he works closely with medical professionals to provide patients with comprehensive care.