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We encourage you to contact us with any questions or comments you may have. Please call our office or use the contact form below.


Office location:
Raleigh
3917 Sunset Ridge Road
Raleigh , NC 27607
Phone: 919-788-7878
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Thank you for your trust and confidence in our team.  You can Trust us with your Smile! We will make every effort to make you comfortable through out your visit with us. 

What is TMJ / TMD? 
The terms TMJ / TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, are usually used to describe a group of symptoms which can include: Headaches, Face or Neck pain, Chipped, Worn, or Broken teeth, Clicking or Popping in the jaw, Congestion or Ringing in the ears, and Vertigo and Balance issues.  A large number of people who have TMJ will experience constant pain in the jaw joints, teeth, face, head, neck, shoulders and back. They may also experience congestion and ringing in the ears, as well as bouts of vertigo (dizziness). Grinding and/or clenching of the teeth are also often reported.

TMJ Sufferers
Many people in North America have experienced some form of TMJ at some point in their lives. Studies estimate that 25% to 35% of the adult population has TMJ problems. Women generally report a higher incidence of TMJ, but damage to the bone, teeth and gums can occur in both men and women.

Where is The TMJ?TMJ symptomsTMJ refers to the “temporomandibular joint,” or jaw joint. The TMJ is located in front of your ears. It is the area where the head of the lower jaw meets the upper jaw. The TMJ is the most complex joint in the human body. This joint contains a complex of blood vessels, nerves, muscles and bones that can all be effected by an injury, clenching or grinding of the teeth or a bad bite. The actual term for this is TMD orTemporomandibular Dysfunction. TMD can cause a variety of symptoms including: Headaches or Migraines; Clenching or Grinding; worn teeth; Face, Neck or Back pain; Numbness in arms and fingers; Ringing or Congestion in the ears. Vertigo or dizziness.

What Are The Causes Of TMJ
 

Most cases of TMJ are the result of either a bad bite, which is known asmalocclusion, or some type of trauma, such as a car accident. When someone has a malocclusion, it means that the teeth are not fitting together properly. When the teeth are not coming together properly, they are unable to support the facial muscles. This places excessive strain on the muscles, which results in pain in the face. In turn, the facial muscles recruit muscles of the neck, shoulders and upper back to help reduce some of the strain. This causes stress and pain in these muscles as well. These muscles are then forced into a strained position, resulting in pain throughout the face, head, arms, shoulders, and back. All of this excessive strain results in a build up of waste products, such as lactic acid, in the muscles. If you have ever lifted weights, you know that after a while, the muscles get tired and start to burn. This is the same process that happens with the jaw muscles.



How Can TMJ Be Treated

We treat TMJ using a Neuromuscular approach. We first will find the position of the jaw where the muscles are in their most relaxed position. We call this"happy muscles". Once we have found this relaxed position, we then will work to correct the "bad bite" by restoring the teeth to place the jaws in the "happy muscle" position. When the muscles are comfortable, the pain will disappear. For more information, go to our headache Solutions Page.