Making Your Smile Beautiful

Patients who experience locking or painful jaw problems as a result of stress, grinding, strain, arthritis, or injury should contact the office of dentist Michael D. Doty, DDS for TMJ and TMD treatment. Dr. Doty has trained extensively to understand the causes and solutions to stop the headaches and jaw pain that result from TMJ disorder. During your visit, Dr. Doty will test your jaw’s mobility and function to determine which area or areas are causing the pain and, if appropriate, provide a dental appliance or other treatment options that help relieve your symptoms and improve your joint’s health.

The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, or the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the head. The term “TMJ” is often used to refer to TMJ disorder, also called TMD, which occurs when you develop problems with the jaw. You may suffer from TMD if you experience frequent jaw pain or facial pain. TMJ symptoms may include:

• Grinding, clicking, or popping sounds in the jaw when you open and close your mouth
• Inability to open your mouth wide to speak, yawn, or chew
• A locked or stuck jaw
• Pain when chewing and biting
• Pain in the neck and shoulders
• Ear Pain
• Frequent headaches and ringing in your ears from jaw tension

Dr. Doty can help you determine the cause of your TMJ disorder and recommend the appropriate treatment, which will depend on the cause and severity of your symptoms. TMD treatment may include lifestyle changes, restorative dental treatments, or a TMD Orthotic. To learn more about the treatments we provide for the TMJ in Abingdon, Virginia, and to schedule your consultation with Dr. Doty, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule your evaluation and consultation.

Click to active map