Mesa area dentist reviews the cost and expectation of TMJ treatment
Dr. Edward Fritz and the team at Mesa’s New Health Dental work closely with men and women to help them with their oral health concerns. Our team believes that patients should have access to treatments that can make them look better, feel healthier, and enjoy more comfort. When patients are experiencing discomfort from a condition known as TMJ/TMD, we are here to help.
The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint. This joint hinges the jaw to the skull and allows patients to open and close their mouth. However, sometimes this joint becomes problematic and it can result in discomfort, dysfunction, and problems that can extend out from the mouth area. This is when patients may want to speak to a quality dentist about a proper diagnosis for a condition known as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder.
TMD has no real known cause, but can result in several problems including:
- Locking of the jaw
- Chronic sensitivity around the jaw joint
- Discomfort that can radiate around the jaw and down through the neck and shoulders
- Bruxism (clenching and grinding during sleep)
- Inability to properly chew
When patients are diagnosed with TMJ disorder, Dr. Edward Fritz reviews with patients the costs and expectations of treatment. While there are surgical procedures that can improve this condition, this is only done as a last resort. Instead, many patients prefer to use oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy requires patients to wear a special plastic mouth guard that helps in realigning the jaw and reducing pressure. This, in turn, can reduce sensitivity around the joint and can keep the condition from causing unwanted wear and tear on the teeth.
Oral appliance therapy is simple, affordable, and effective, and many patients who suffer from this condition find it to be a great way of achieving the comfort they need to enjoy a better quality of life. Patients in and around the Mesa area who have been diagnosed with TMD are welcome to contact the team of New Health Dental to find out if they are a proper candidate for cost-effective treatment such as oral appliance therapy.
