TMJ Pain & Headache Treatment in Elk Grove and Davis

Effective Treatment for Painful and Misaligned Jaw Joints

• Symptoms That Indicate a Malfunctioning TMJ
• Complimentary TMJ Consultation
• Causes of TMJ Problems
• High-Tech, Accurate Diagnosis
• Treatments for TMJ Disorders
• Can You Help Me Relieve Headaches?

TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint,” which means the jaw joint. It is called temporomandibular because it connects the lower jaw (the “mandible”) to the “temporal” (underneath your temples) skull bone immediately in front of your ears. The jaw joints and the attached muscles are what you use when you chew, talk or yawn.

TMJ Disorders (TMD) are difficulties with these jaw joints or the muscles that are attached to them. Various forces can cause stress on these structures, which can result in face pain, neck pain, headaches and other symptoms.

Extensive training, experience and technology

Dr. Chantry is highly trained and very experienced in the effective diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders. He has completed extensive advanced training at the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, including advanced courses and residencies. He uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to discover the exact cause of the problems so he can provide effective treatment that will reduce or eliminate TMJ pain and discomfort.

Symptoms That Indicate a Malfunctioning TMJ

Typical symptoms of a TMJ disorder include:

• Facial tenderness or pain around the jaw joint area
• Earaches
• Toothaches
• Headaches
• Neck Pain
• Upper shoulder pain
• Difficulty opening the mouth very wide
• Grating, clicking or popping sounds when opening and closing the mouth
• Difficulty chewing
• Ringing in the ears

Complimentary TMJ Consultation

If you think you may have difficulties that stem from TMJ disorders, come and see Dr. Chantry for a Complimentary TMJ Consultation. Learn more about what can be done to correct the situation and get all of your questions answered. Your visit will include:

Call to request an appointment: Elk Grove 916‑249‑0360 • Davis 530‑601‑4201 • Yuba City 530‑491‑4448, or click here to request an appointment online.

Causes of TMJ Problems

TMJ problems can be caused by a variety of different factors, each of which move the jaw joints out of alignment and cause excessive strain on the surrounding muscles and nerves. The main contributors to these problems are bite misalignment, teeth grinding, teeth clenching and emotional stress which causes muscle tightening. Difficulties can also occur as a result of the joints becoming dislocated, suffering an injury, or developing arthritis.

High-Tech, Accurate Diagnosis

Dr. Chantry uses cutting-edge technology to determine the exact causes of the symptoms. Isolating the exact cause is key to successful treatment.

He conducts a complete head and neck exam and will ask you to complete a thorough questionnaire as a first action. When needed to zero in on the cause more precisely, he uses a series of high-tech computerized diagnostic instruments to measure jaw motion, jaw joint function, muscle tension and bite forces.

If a detailed view of the bones, muscles and tendons inside your head is needed, he may also have you receive a dental 3D CT scan and/or an MRI (magnetic-resonance image) at a local facility. Dr. Chantry will do whatever it takes to get to the root of the problem.

Treatments for TMJ Disorders

After the cause of the problem has been accurately determined, Dr. Chantry will create a custom treatment plan for you. Below are some the treatments he frequently employs to relieve or resolve TMJ difficulties:

Oral appliance therapy

Dr. Chantry can custom-fabricate an oral appliance, similar to a night guard, that holds your jaws comfortably in an optimum position during sleep, and thereby relieves a great deal of jaw and/or muscle strain. Oral appliances can also be made to prevent the tendency to grind or clench your teeth.

Muscle and joint therapies

There are a number of muscle and joint therapies that use mild stimulation, ultrasound or other actions to relieve muscle and joint pain.

Orthodontics

Orthodontic correction can straighten out the teeth and establish a proper bite relationship that no longer puts strain or tension on the jaw joints or associated muscles. Dr. Chantry provides full orthodontic services, including top-quality braces and Invisalign® clear aligners.

New dental restorations, such as crowns and bridges

New dental work, such as crowns, bridges or dental-implant-supported new teeth, can sometimes help optimize bite alignment and reduce or eliminate stress on the jaw joints. Dr. Chantry creates well-fitting crowns and bridges, and thanks to our advanced CEREC® computerized design and milling system, he can often design and fabricate the necessary restorations in our own office.

Treatment performed by other specialists

Sometimes the situation requires supplemental treatment from other specialists, such as physical therapists, chiropractors, orthopedists or oral surgeons. Dr. Chantry will do whatever it takes to help get you out of pain. When needed, he will refer you to the correct specialist who can help resolve your TMJ issues.

Can You Help Me Relieve Headaches?

Tension headaches can sometimes be caused by TMJ disorders, as they cause strain on certain nerves or muscles connected to the jaw joints. For example, the trigeminal nerve, which is involved in biting and chewing, can be overly strained by jaw joint problems, resulting in pain signals being sent to the head and neck.

Dr. Chantry will use the necessary combination of advanced diagnostic tools to determine the underlying causes of the joint, nerve and muscle tension, after which he will formulate a custom treatment plan to address and correct the situation. Where these problems directly result in head and neck pain, treatment can often provide significant relief.

Call to request an appointment: Elk Grove 916‑249‑0360 • Davis 530‑601‑4201 • Yuba City 530‑491‑4448, or click here to request an appointment online.