If you place your fingertips just in front of your ears and open your mouth, you should be able to feel your temporomandibular joints pressing against the skin. These small parts of your body have an important job, connecting your lower jaw with the skull so that patients can eat and speak without issue. Unfortunately, this responsibility means that even the slightest stress or misalignment in the patient’s bite can throw the joints off-balance, causing painful dysfunction. This condition is known as TMJ disorder, and Dr. Davina Prida is very familiar with it here in the Dallas area. That’s why she incorporates thorough evaluations of the bite and TMJ joints at every regular dental exam for the safety and comfort of her patients.

If you’re experiencing chronic jaw pain or severe headaches, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Inwood Village Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry for the experienced support and individualized concierge service you deserve. Patients from Highland Park, TX and surrounding areas are encouraged to contact us today and schedule their first appointment.

TMJ disorder is common in today’s world, and while no two cases are exactly alike, there are some common symptoms that patients can observe in their day-to-day life. These include:

• Excessive pain/tenderness that’s located in the jaw
• Discomfort that’s located around the ear
• Constant clicking/popping/locking of the jaw joints
• Difficulty with chewing and/or opening and closing the mouth properly

If one or more of these ailments sounds familiar, let Dr. Prida know at your next appointment. She will review your bite and TMJ joints during a comprehensive exam to determine the severity of your condition and the extent of any damage that’s already occurred. Our goal is to correct underlying bite misalignment, protect teeth from further injury, and relieve pain as effectively as possible.

Following your evaluation, Dr. Prida may determine that correcting one or more teeth is necessary to alleviate the symptoms caused by TMJ disorder. This is known as occlusal adjustment, and it will involve our team analyzing the main points of contact between teeth and distributing the force caused by biting down to reintroduce harmony. Occlusal adjustment is often recommended in conjunction with occlusal splint therapy to provide ideal results.

Occlusal splint therapy involves the use of a custom oral appliance that’s designed with your unique smile in mind. Once in place within the mouth, this devise will readjust the resting position of your upper and lower jaw, helping to reduce facial pain and the threat of oral damage. The diligent use of the splint should create permanent improvements over time, helping to restore the jaw’s natural, healthy function.