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TMD Treatment

Ease pain, restore healthy function: TMD treatment you can trust in Battle Creek, MI

At the office of Earl E. Gaball, DDS, we get to know our patients in and around Battle Creek, MI. So, they become like an extended member of our family. It brings us great joy to ease our patient-family members’ pain and other chronic TMD symptoms that interfere with their day-to-day lives and overall quality of life.  

Dentists for TMD treatment 

TMD stands for “Temporomandibular Joint Disorder” (or “Dysfunction”). The term refers to a group of disorders that are associated with the TM Joint (TMJ). The TMJs on either side of our face acts like a “hinge” that connects the skull to the jaw and facilitates movements. The TMJs are also connected to ligaments, bones, muscles, and other tissues. Any time the joints or their interlinked parts are “stressed,” this creates imbalances. These imbalances manifest as TMD symptoms. Common symptoms include: 

  • Jaw pain 
  • Headaches 
  • Facial, neck, shoulder, and back pain
  • Earaches
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Jaw stiffness; impaired mobility or “locking.”
  • Noisy jaw; pops or clicks when opening or closing the mouth

Dentists like Dr. Gaball are in the best possible position to diagnose and treat TMD accurately. After all, they have advanced, specialized training in oral and maxillofacial anatomy and function. Additionally, Dr. Gaball is often on the front lines of detecting TMD problems during routine exams and check-ups. While TMJ disorders are still not fully understood, oral conditions such as bruxism are associated with TMJD symptoms, too. It’s thought that the considerable force caused by chronic teeth-grinding stresses the jaw joints. Bruxism can “show up” on the teeth as chips or damaged or worn dental restorations. 

Personalized, multi-faceted therapy

Depending on your needs, we may recommend oral appliances such as nightguards or occlusal splints to shield the teeth from damage caused by bruxism and lift the sizeable pressure placed on the teeth and surrounding tissues. Sometimes, replacing old or worn restorations can help restore a healthy relationship between the opposing teeth in the upper and lower jaws. Likewise, patients with “bad bite” can see improvements in TMJD symptoms with orthodontic treatment. In other cases, simple adjustments to habits such as chronic gum-chewing can reduce the frequency or severity of TMJD episodes. Relaxation techniques or exercises can also help to reduce tension at the source of TMJ pain. These interventions can reduce your reliance on pain medications that may merely mask symptoms and fail to provide genuine, lasting relief. 

Effective treatment starts with an appointment at our Battle Creek office. Serving Marshall, Kalamazoo, Athens, Climax, Albion, Charlotte, Jackson, Hastings, Galesburg, and communities in between, our team looks forward to your call – (269) 883-1674.