The role of the TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is to connect your jaw to the rest of your head. When this joint becomes stressed, injured or out of place, it can lead to TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. Without treating TMJ disorder properly, you can face unwanted challenges, such as:

  • Joint damage
  • Inflammation
  • Frequent migraines
  • Disruptions to the airway
  • Limitation of foods you can eat
  • Worn-down teeth
  • Cracked or chipped teeth
  • Receding gums

Thankfully, Dr. Mason Miner is here to help with TMJ treatment in Durango, Colorado.

Signs You May Have TMD

Our dentist may recommend TMJ treatment if you experience:

  • Clicking and popping sounds when opening your mouth
  • Limited mobility when opening your mouth
  • A locked or stuck jaw
  • Discomfort when biting down gently
  • Pain from your mouth to the ears, neck or shoulders
  • Headaches and migraines

If you have any of these symptoms, please contact our office to schedule an evaluation. During your visit, Dr. Mason Miner will check the severity of your condition to see which treatment would best suit your needs, such as trigger point injections.

FACIAL PAIN

Facial pain can have a variety of symptoms and causes. There can be pain in the jaw muscles, neck, “swimmers ear” symptoms, headaches and migraines. These conditions are commonly referred to as myofascial pain disorders.

Causes of this can include:

  • Improper swallowing
  • Mouth breathing
  • Improper lip and tongue posture
  • Tongue tie
  • Poor posture
  • Repetitive tasks

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections (TPI) may be an option for treating pain for the TMJ. Dry needling is a similar treatment. These are used to treat painful areas of muscles that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. Many times, these knots can be felt under the skin. Trigger points often irritate the nerves around them and cause referred pain, or pain that is felt in another part of the body.

For this treatment, Dr. Mason Miner inserts a small needle into the trigger point. The injection contains local anesthetic (for your comfort — referred to as “wet needling”). With the injections, the trigger points are made inactive and the pain is alleviated. Usually, a brief course of treatment will result in sustained relief. Injections are given in a doctor’s office and usually take just a few minutes. Several sites may be injected in one visit. If you have an allergy to a certain drug, a dry-needle technique (involving no medications) can be used.

Trigger point injections can also be used to treat fibromyalgia as well as migraines, chronic and tension headaches. The technique is also used to alleviate myofascial pain syndrome (chronic pain involving tissue that surrounds muscle) that does not respond to other treatments.

Here at Durango Laser Dentistry, we use trigger point injection treatment to address facial pain, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain to help you find predictable relief.

Another treatment option for TMD and myofascial pain issues we use, is using low level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy. The laser delivers light energy right to the body’s cells, aggressively treating pain and inflammation at the source. The laser relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and accelerates tissue repair cell growth so you can get back on track to doing what you love.

Benefits of TMJ Treatment in Durango, Colorado

By treating the effects of TMD, you can:

  • Prevent digestive issues
  • Minimize jaw discomfort
  • Ease headaches
  • Keep your teeth protected from bruxism
  • Achieve more restful sleep
  • Chew meals without difficulty
  • Avoid deterioration of the jaw joint

Find Relief From Your Symptoms Today!

If you have signs of a TMJ disorder and would like to schedule an appointment with our dentist and team in Durango, Colorado, please give us a call at 970-247-2677.

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