Is stress aggravating your TMJ? | Lilburn, GA

Headaches? Ear pain? Neck pain?

For patients who suffer with a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), commonly called TMJ, stress can increase teeth grinding and other symptoms of TMJ. These can include recurring headaches, neck pain and facial pain, especially upon waking. Some patients may also clench their jaw and/or grind their teeth during the day in stressful situations without realizing it.

Stress is a common factor in TMJ, frequently causing patients to clench their jaw or teeth, grind their teeth and experience increased tension in the jaw and the temporomandibular joint (the TMJ).

Dr. Harry McCool, a Lilburn Prosthodontist, has extensive post graduate education and specialized training in the treatment of bite disorders such as TMJ. The successful treatment of TMJ can be complex and providing long term results relies on the proper diagnosis of the underlying imbalance in the bite. Dr. McCool performs a thorough evaluation of a patient’s entire occlusal system before creating a customized treatment plan.

There are a wide variety of procedures and treatments that can be used for TMD, starting with the use of an NTI-tss device to prevent teeth grinding. This FDA approved device has proven more effective than the traditional mouthguard because it does not create a biting surface for the back teeth to bite down on. This conservative approach is often effective in relieving the symptoms of TMJ and preventing damage to the teeth or TMJ.

For patients who have damaged teeth- either from the TMD or as a root cause- Dr. McCool may recommend a restorative procedure to realign the teeth. This may involve reshaping the teeth with tooth bonding or crowns, realigning the teeth with orthodontics, or replacing missing teeth. All of these possible treatments will restore balance in the occlusal system.

TMJ can often be painful and affect a patient’s lifestyle: disrupted sleep, headaches, painful chewing are frequent complaints. Dr. McCool offers TMJ treatment that can alleviate symptoms and help to improve overall oral health.


Contact

Harry W. McCool, DDS, PC
Lilburn, GA Dentist
dentistoflilburn.com

645 Beaver Ruin Rd NW, Suite A
Lilburn, GA 30047

New Patients (770) 450-4407

Current Patients (770) 381-9320

Hours

Monday - Thursday
8:00am - 5:00pm

Schedule Appointment