Dr. Janet Kim Kearns at Intown Dental Center provides TMJ Therapy in Atlanta, GA, for patients suffering from a stiff or sore jaw. TMJ therapy can help relieve pain if you are dealing with TMJ symptoms. Keep reading about TMJ therapy and come see us for diagnosis and treatment.

What is TMJ?

Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ is characterized by problems with the jaw joint or jaw muscles. If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth you're more likely to have TMJ symptoms, which include:

• Jaw 'locks' in an open or closed position
• Pain while chewing
• Jaw pain
• Clicking or popping of the jaw
• Difficulty chewing
• Tooth pain
• Headaches

TMJ can be temporary and go away on its own but most cases will require some TMJ therapy in Atlanta, GA. If you have TMJ it can make it painful to complete basic oral hygiene, so don't ignore these symptoms. Contact your dentist for treatment before it affects your oral hygiene.

TMJ Therapy

TMJ therapy is focused on minimizing your pain and restoring full function to your jaw. Your dentist will recommend managing stress because the more stress you're dealing with, the more likely you are to clench and grind your jaw. For your pain, you can take over-the-counter pain killers or anti-inflammatory medication and apply warm or cold compresses to the face.

If you're grinding your teeth at night your dentist will recommend a nightguard to protect your teeth from damage. Your dentist can also teach you TMJ exercises to stretch your jaw. If you're in severe pain you should only try gentle stretches, and attempt the exercises when the pain subsides. If you find your pain worsens after doing exercises, stop and call your dentist for an emergency appointment.

Intown Dental Center is here for you if you're suffering from TMJ. Dr. Janet Kim Kearns can help you with TMJ therapy in Atlanta, GA. Contact us for an appointment at (404) 889-8370.