TMJ Therapy
Do you ever feel like you have tight jaw pain when you wake up in the morning? Do you get really bad headaches? Do you feel like your jaw locks or is painful when you're opening or closing your mouth? Pain like this could be due to clenching or grinding your teeth.
What is TMJ?
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TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is vital in the function and movement of the jaw. It acts like a sliding hinge, and connects your jawbone to your skull. Complications in this joint may be caused by misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or excessive muscle tension.
Problems in the TMJ can cause headaches, earaches, popping of the jaw, pain in the jaw muscles, and soreness in the area that may extend to the face. Dr. Wilson Leung and Dr. Katherine Leung have various methods for TMJ treatments, including professional nightguards and/or medication.
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YOU MAY BENEFIT FROM A PROFESSIONAL NIGHTGUARD IF YOU:
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Wake up from your sleep clenching your teeth
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See small craze lines in your teeth
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Have experienced several cracked teeth
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Have pain in the morning in your jaw
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Have small notches at the gumline of your teeth
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Get headaches and a sore neck regularly
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What to Expect
YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
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At your first appointment in Hayward, a TMJ assessment will be performed, checking your range of movement, feeling for tension in the muscles surrounding the jaw, and checking for clicking or crepitus (crackling noise) and nerve asymmetry. We carefully assess to ensure we choose the right appliance for your TMJ issue. If there are more complicated issues with your TMJ, we will work with our TMJ specialist to ensure we provide you the appropriate care you need.
If we prescribe a night guard for you, we will then take an impression of your teeth is taken with a putty-like material and fabricate a strong, durable appliance.
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YOUR SECOND APPOINTMENT
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During your second appointment, we will have your new oral appliance ready for you. We will provide instructions on how to place the appliance, as well as take it out and clean it. We will also review the benefits of using the nightguard and the disadvantages of not using it.
Dr. Leung will have your TMJ therapy in your best interest, and following her instructions will minimize any symptoms you may be experiencing.
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Contact Leung Dental
If you are looking for a caring and thorough dentist in the Hayward area, we encourage you to make an appointment with Dr. Wilson Leung and Dr. Katherine Leung by calling us at 510-886-8899, or by clicking here!
Each member of our staff is dedicated to ensuring that our patients are always comfortable and well-informed during their visits with us. We look forward to your call and welcoming you to the Leung Dental family.
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