TMJ Treatment - East Brunswick, NJ
Your lower jaw actually has two little hinges located in front of your ears called the temporomandibular joints, or TMJ. These are what allow your jaw to move fluidly whenever you speak, eat, laugh, or yawn. Like other joints in the body, they can sometimes become damaged or strained, and this can cause a variety of dental and overall health problems, commonly referred to as a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Dr. Ruiz is specially trained to handle these kinds of issues and provide the pain relief you need. If you commonly experience a stiff, painful jaw, migraine headaches, or teeth grinding, be sure to contact us today for TMJ treatment in East Brunswick, NJ.
Occlusal Adjustments
Sometimes, bite alignment issues can cause tension and strain for the TMJs, leading to stiffness and pain. To address this kind of issue, our team will do an analysis of your bite to find the areas where the teeth do not properly come together, and then we can gently reshape them so they do. This will help your teeth fit together more comfortably and eliminate any pain you might have related to TMD.
Occlusal Splints
An occlusal splint is a special type of a mouthguard that a patient can wear to treat their TMD, and it works by slightly adjusting the jaw so the joints and muscles are in more natural and relaxed positions. A patient only has to wear it at night, and it will be custom-made to comfortably fit over their teeth. After a few months of consistent use, many people are able to achieve permanent improvements and stop wearing the splint, though some may need to continue in order to keep experiencing relief.