TMJ/TMD Treatment – Lebanon, NH
Got Jaw Pain?
Our Dental Office
Can Help
Do you find yourself waking up with jaw pain on a regular basis? Does your jaw click or make any sounds when you chew food? If chronic discomfort or issues like lockjaw appear, it could be as a result of an untreated temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. Thankfully, Dr. Sanders and Dr. Munsey are prepared to provide you detailed diagnosis and treatment, so you can continue your life without pain. Call our dental office today to schedule your consultation to discuss TMJ/TMD treatment in Lebanon, NH!
Why Choose Hanover Road Dental Health for TMJ/TMD Treatment?
- Detailed Diagnosis & Treatment from Caring Dentists
-
Highly
Customized
Occlusal Splints -
Dedicated to
Removing
Discomfort
Diagnosis & Treatment
When you arrive for your dental appointment, we’ll perform a comprehensive exam designed to confirm your jaw’s current condition. This includes detailed digital X-rays that examine your jaw joints and the surrounding bone tissue. Once we have a clear picture of your condition, we can provide a diagnosis and treatment moving forward. Our number one priority is getting you out of discomfort and personalizing care specifically for your needs so you can live your life comfortably.
Equilibration/ Occlusal Adjustments
In many cases, the jaw joints experience disproportionate amounts of stress because the bite has become uneven. This can occur as a result of a jaw injury or due to teeth grinding and clenching (technically classified as bruxism.) During equilibration and occlusal adjustment, we make slight modifications to existing enamel or current restorations you may already have so that the bite becomes more even. It’s a very quick and straightforward method for resolving chronic jaw pain caused by TMD.
Occlusal
Splints
When the position of the jaw is causing problems with the jaw joints, our dental office can create a custom-made oral appliance that is worn while you sleep throughout the night. This is known as an occlusal splint and is designed to relax jaw muscles, protect your tooth enamel, and stop severe temporomandibular joint trauma before it has a chance to occur. They also work to reduce headaches and earaches, which are more common as a result of TMD.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Our team is here to help you find a solution for your TMJ disorder. First, though, we want to make sure that we answer any questions you might have regarding your condition or the treatment that we’re recommending. Don’t hesitate to let us know during your initial consultation if something is on your mind! As part of our efforts to educate our patients, we’ve answered a number of common TMJ treatment inquiries in the FAQs below.
How Long Does Occlusal Adjustment Take for TMJ Disorder?
It’s hard to give an exact answer to this question since every patient’s needs are different. A single occlusal adjustment appointment can be completed in a relatively short amount of time, but the exact number of appointments required can vary. Some patients only need one appointment while others could need as many as three.
As for how long it will take before you find relief from your TMJ-related pain, it largely depends on the exact changes made. That said, it generally won’t be too long before you see an improvement.
Does Occlusal Adjustment for TMJ Hurt?
The amount of enamel that needs to be taken off your teeth for an occlusal adjustment will be very small, and we will do what we can to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for you. Oftentimes, we will use a local anesthetic to numb the parts of your mouth that are being treated.
After your procedure, the local anesthetic will eventually wear off. Your mouth may feel somewhat sore, but it should be manageable and will typically only last a few days.
How Long Does It Take for an Occlusal Splint to Work?
An occlusal splint is meant to reduce the stress on your jaw joints. This can go a long way toward helping you overcome your TMJ-related pain, but it can take a while to achieve full relief. Oftentimes, you can expect to need to wear your splint on a nightly basis for about three to six months. That said, your discomfort may notably diminish after just six weeks.
It’s important to remember that the timeline for occlusal splint therapy can vary from patient to patient. As such, your own treatment could potentially be longer or shorter than average.
Is TMJ Treatment Covered by Insurance?
This is a complicated question to answer. Some companies are willing to pay for TMJ treatment but only provide coverage for certain procedures. Others may not cover TMJ treatment at all unless the state requires them to.
On top of that, sometimes your treatment may fall under dental insurance, but in other cases, your medical insurance might be used instead. It depends on what the cause of your disorder is and the exact type of treatment that you need.
It’s highly recommended that you reach out to your insurance provider to confirm whether TMJ coverage is available. You can always talk to our team if you have additional insurance-related questions.