Have you heard someone complain about having TMJ?
Are you the person who is complaining?
If so, then it’s time for you to call Dr. Mark W. Wilhelm.
He has training, technology, and treatments that can alleviate the pain and suffering you may be dealing with as a result of your TMJ disorder. We want to put our knowledge and expertise to work for you.
But first you have to make an appointment with us.
Calling (651) 319-9064 or contacting us online to plan your visit to our dentist office in Woodbury, MN, is your first step in taking care of your TMJ troubles.
Understanding TMJ
TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint. You have two of these ball-and-socket joints. They connect your lower jaw to your skull. These joints are why you can open and close your mouth.
TMJ problems can develop if you have an alignment problem with your jaw. TMJ problems can develop as a result of injuries or accident. Arthritis can affect your TMJ just as it affects other joints, and problems with the soft tissues around your TMJ may interfere with how your jaw functions as well.
Last but not least, you can develop TMJ disorders and other problems as a result of grinding or clenching your teeth together. (Many people do this in their sleep without knowing.)
When left untreated TMJ disorders can cause a variety of problems:
◼ Frequent headaches and earaches
◼ Jaw and facial pain during or after meals
◼ Lingering jaw pains
◼ Limited jaw movement
◼ Jaw stiffness
◼ Pain in your neck, back, and shoulders
If you are experiencing one or more of these problems often, then it might be a good idea to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wilhelm.
Advanced Analysis To Assist With TMJ Treatment
By coming to our office, you will benefit from our years of experience in helping patients with TMJ problems. Part of our treatment includes using advanced equipment to measure changes in your bite and your jaw alignment.
Electromyography, or EMG, allows us to measure activity in muscles on each side of your face. Tracking this activity can help us identify any muscle movement problems.
Our jaw tracker is how we monitor the movement of your jaw as you open and close your mouth. By placing small magnets on your teeth, we can track your jaw movement using computer software. When used in combination with our next tool, it helps us pinpoint where problems occur.
When you move your jaw, it causes vibrations that make sounds. Those sounds may not be audible to our ears, but they can be measured with Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA). These vibrations are caused by the friction created as you open and close your mouth. By finding when the vibrations are strongest, we can learn where in your range of motion you are having the most problems.
Finally, we have our T-Scan™. This measures the pressure at different points in your jaw. It helps us determine if there is an imbalance to how much pressure you are putting on each side of your mouth.
Each of piece of information is like part of a puzzle. When we put them together, we get a complete picture of where and when your TMJ is most likely to cause problems. This helps us determine the right treatment for you, and it gives us a way to track your progress as well.
You Shouldn’t Live In Pain
A TMJ disorder isn’t just an annoyance. When left unchecked, it can prevent you from enjoying everyday experiences with your family and friends. It can interfere with your ability to focus at work, and it can cause you to avoid eating certain foods.
If there is any way we can alleviate your pain, that’s what we will do at our office in Woodbury, MN. Call (651) 319-9064 or contact us online to learn how we can analyze and treat your TMJ troubles.
