Services
TMJ
TMJ and TMD: What Do They Mean?
As a patient, you may hear these terms a lot. To help you best understand your potential condition — and your possible treatments — we’ll give you a rundown.
TMJ
TMJ isn’t a condition, even if it may be commonly referred to as one. It’s actually a part of our anatomy. Located on each side of our faces, the TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is what attaches our jaw to our skulls. This joint is the area that is affected when we grind our teeth or clench our jaw. Over time, it can become worn and subject to symptoms like pain or jaw muscle tightness.
TMD
When you clench and grind your teeth, you may have a condition called temporomandibular disorder. It affects your teeth, your jaw muscles, and your temporomandibular joint. Often, it can worsen in times of stress. Also, even if you don’t notice any grinding, you may be doing it in your sleep, which is why it’s important to seek care if you notice symptoms.
How to know
How Do I Know If I Might Have TMJ Disorder?
Though the only way to know for sure is requesting a TMD appointment, you may be able to recognize a few common concerns. When you have a TMD, you likely live with uncomfortable side effects impacting your teeth, jaw, head, and even neck. Our Slidell dental patients often report symptoms like:
Instead of living with debilitating TMD symptoms like headaches and sore jaw muscles, you can find relief. To learn how we can help you during an appointment, contact our Slidell, LA, office or call.
Dr. Appleton Explains Our Patient-Oriented Approach To TMJ Disorder Treatment
Frequent temporomandibular joint problems can cause widespread dental issues, but our dentists are here to assist. They will never judge or shame you. Instead, they will work with you to decide on the right solution to your exact TMD case, like splints or BOTOX®. That way, you can finally live a life without the daily discomfort you may be used to.
For your TMD TREATMENT
Three Reasons to Visit Oak Harbor Family Dentistry
We offer TMD care you can trust from diagnosis, to exploring treatment options, to restoring damage done by regular grinding and clenching. Still need a little nudge? Slidell patients often come to see us because of:
01. Our Areas of Expertise
At our welcoming dental office in Slidell, LA, we concentrate our knowledge in two areas: restorative dental care and preventative dental care. This makes us an excellent choice for patients just noticing their TMJ problems, as well as those who have a long-term TMD.
02. Financing and Insurance
Need help making treatment fit into your budget? By accepting both CareCredit® financing and multiple types of major insurance, we help patients seek the life-changing TMD services required to protect their smile.
03. Our Relaxing Practice
Family members with periodontal disease are 2 times as likely to have insulin resistance.
YOU CAN TRUST OUR SLIDELL DENTAL TEAM
Whether You're From North Shore, Metairie, or Even out of Town
Keith Kiple
Absolutely the best experience.
Traveling in town. Had a dental emergency. Dr. Mike was able to meet access and repair within 2 hours.
Romester R
Oak Harbor Family Dentistry is the place to go if you want the absolute best care for your teeth. My teeth were a train wreck.
Dr. Appleton and his team gave me the help that I needed. Thank you. 🙂
TMD doesn’t just affect your temporomandibular joint; the condition can also take a genuine toll on your teeth. As you grind and clench, your temporomandibular disorder can cause dental damage in addition to other unpleasant symptoms.
In some cases, it may cause your teeth to loosen. Or, it may lead to breakage.
Finally, for some TMD patients, it might also lead them to lose a tooth or multiple teeth. As a result, seeking care for your temporomandibular joint problem can end up saving your teeth in the long run.
Our dentists conclude, “It is not enough anymore to just attend to trouble spots in the gums. Instead, attacking gum disease aggressively will become a top priority for maintaining, and improving our patients’ overall health and their enjoyment of life. In fact, it will mean that if our patients’ teeth and gums are not healthy, we can assume that they are not healthy overall.”
TMD PREVENTION
You Can Prevent the Need For TMD-Related Treatments Like These
It can help to think of temporomandibular joint treatments like splints as investment in your quality of life and oral wellness. When you visit our dentists in a timely manner to treat your TMD, we can work together to prevent the need for these procedures:
Frequently Asked Questions
Damage from teeth grinding can be preventable. Even if you do have dental damage, you’ve found a compassionate team that’s happy to assist you. For patients who have worn or broken teeth, our Slidell dentists offer targeted dental treatment, including dental crowns and implants. After all, we’re here to help, not to judge.
slidell dental patients
Feel Completely at Home
Moving to a new city and finding a dentist you like and trust is scary! I have a complicated disorder which requires sedation when getting dental treatment. Dr Braud and his girls have gone above and beyond to make me feel comfortable from initial visit all the way to restorative work. I cannot say enough good things about this office! 10/10 recommend.