TMJ Treatment / Teeth Grinding

Wake Up Without Jaw Pain

Enjoy a comfortable night’s rest with a mouthguard
Keep your smile whole by stopping teeth grinding
Eliminate headaches & other TMJ symptoms

Call Today219-841-7795

3110 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 46368

Which location would you like to contact?*(Required)

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Phone

Email(Required)

How can we help you?(Required)

Are you new to our practice?*(Required)

Yes

Please verify your request

Home > Portage > TMJ Treatment / Teeth Grinding

Very successful care for pain relief

TMJ Treatment / Teeth Grinding in Michigan City

Getting through daily life is more difficult when you are struggling with frequent jaw pain and headaches. Those are just a few of the possible signs that you could benefit from TMJ treatment in Portage, IN. TMJ is often caused by teeth grinding. By addressing the source of your problem, you could:

Protect your smile
End your ongoing pain
Eat comfortably again

Get relief from your TMJ problems at Orthodontic Alliances. Call 219-841-7795 to schedule a consultation. For decades, we’ve helped patients from across the region with their TMJ needs. We also accept referrals from doctors and dentists in Indianapolis and throughout the state who trust us to treat complex TMJ concerns. We offer flexible payment plans and price of treatment starts reasonably at $695 dollars for TMJ treatment.*

* Visit the office for custom treatment plan.

Very successful care for pain relief

There’s kind of two avenues of TMJ. There’s TMJ, which is jaw joint pathology or breakdown, actually within the jaw joint, like a knee, like a shoulder where the joint disc, the cushion between the ball and the socket has displaced. And that’s what causes the popping and clicking that so many people have with TMJ.

And then there’s the other aspect where people don’t have jaw problems inside the joint that are more of what’s called myofascial pain and clenching and grinding and those types of aspects, overall total facial pain and neck and cervical pain. Now, the people with popping and clicking in their jaw also with clenching and grinding, then they got the full meal deal. The very first thing we decide is, is this person an intracapsular problem or an extracapsular problem? Does this person have a healthy joint or not a healthy joint? And if it’s just clenching and grinding and that kind of pain, that’s very straightforward, very, very successful treatment.

And even the ones who have popping and clicking discs, it goes a little bit longer because besides the pathology and the soreness they have from clenching and grinding and those symptoms, you have to treat the joint because underlying this, if you’ve got problems within the joint, so-called slipped discs, you have neurologic signals being sent out of that joint, telling the facial muscles to splint whether you’re clenching or not is the source of the pain. But in both cases, even though we use different types of splints, usually we’re using some type of splint positioning of the jaw to heal the jaw joint or to break that, that constant habit of clenching and grinding, and especially on grinders who wear their teeth down and fracture their teeth, it prevents that from occurring. So very, very successful.

We’ve established ourselves as a regional treatment center for TMJ in northwest Indiana for over 45 years. I’m going to get patients from Indianapolis all around the northern part of the state, even medical doctors who’ve gone through their diagnosis, MRIs, ear evaluations. You go out, go see your dentist, boom, they finally send them to us.

We’ve hopefully worked enough with those people to say, don’t spend all that time and money on barking up that tree. If they have a popping and clicking jaw and facial pain, get them to us right away because we’re very successful at treating TMJ pain.

We Will Help You Combat the Signs of Teeth Grinding

Our doctors have decades of combined experience helping people who are suffering from TMJ and teeth grinding issues. With our assistance, you can get relief from:

Jaw pain and stiffness
Headaches and earaches
Clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth
Feeling like you cannot fully open or close your mouth
Facial, neck, and upper back pain

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. You have two of these joints, and they allow you to move your lower jaw. You cannot move them as well as you should when there is a TMJ problem, however. Teeth grinding, a symptom of TMJ disorder, can damage your enamel and increase your risk of gum disease and tooth infections.

How TMJ Splints Help Relieve Jaw Pain

TMJ splints can address specific jaw joint concerns. The right appliance depends on your diagnosis and symptoms. Depending on your needs, a splint may:

Protect your teeth by preventing them from contact if you clench or grind your teeth
Reposition your jaw to reduce pressure on the TMJ and promote healthier joint function

By reducing strain on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, splints can reduce jaw pain, headaches, and neck discomfort. We recommend treatment based on a thorough exam of your jaw joints, bite, and other symptoms. We may combine splint therapy with orthodontic treatment for lasting results.

End Your Suffering by Stopping the Grind

In the United States, TMJ disorders affect more than 10 million people. Anyone can develop this condition, although women are more likely to be diagnosed with it than men. Regardless, no one wants to wake up every morning with a headache or an aching jaw.

A misaligned bite can place stress on your temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Habits like clenching and grinding your teeth can increase that strain, leading to muscle fatigue, jaw pain, headaches, and dental damage.

You may experience also symptoms such as:

Muscle Pain and Headaches – Frequent clenching or grinding overworks the muscles responsible for opening and closing your jaw. Like any overused muscle, they can become fatigued and sore. You may have headaches, facial pain, neck discomfort, and tenderness around the jaw. You can clench your teeth and remain unaware throughout the day or while sleeping.
Jaw Joint Damage – Clicking, popping, or jaw locking may indicate that the cushioning structures inside the TMJ have been damaged. As the joint becomes less stable, chewing and other jaw movements can place additional pressure, increasing pain and inflammation. Without treatment, ongoing stress may contribute to long-term damage, including arthritis.

By getting a special oral appliance, you can prevent grinding and clenching your teeth together. Orthodontics may be part of your treatment, too, if the alignment of your teeth is part of your problem.

You should not accept pain as part of your daily life. If you need teeth grinding or TMJ treatment in Portage, IN, our doctors at Orthodontic Alliances are ready to get to work. Start with a consultation. Contact us online or call 219-841-7795.

Read Why Our Patients Love Us

Rate Your Experience

Common Questions About TMJ Treatment / Teeth Grinding

Does TMJ treatment work?

TMJ problems typically will not go away without treatment. TMJ pain is usually caused when the joints in your jaw become inflamed. This commonly occurs because of two habits that put your jaw under pressure: clenching and teeth grinding. We can make a custom mouthguard for you in our on-site lab that will stop these behaviors. Then your jaw can heal.

How do I know if I have TMJ disorder?

You will know if you have a TMJ disorder after an exam. Exact symptoms vary depending on whether the problem is muscular or involves the joint. Muscle-based pain tends to show up as jaw soreness, tension headaches, and facial tightness. Joint problems add clicking, popping, locking, or a feeling of restricted movement.

Why does my jaw click or pop when I open my mouth?

Clicking and popping when you open your mouth happens when the disc inside the jaw joint has shifted out of its normal position. As your jaw moves, it catches on the displaced disc instead of gliding smoothly over it. The sound you hear is the disc snapping in and out of place. If the clicking is accompanied by pain, stiffness, or limited range of motion, the joint is under active stress and should be evaluated promptly. The longer a displaced disc goes untreated, the greater the risk of damage to the surrounding tissue.

Can clenching my teeth cause jaw pain even if I don’t grind them?

Yes, clenching your teeth can cause jaw pain even if you don’t grind them. Clenching keeps the jaw muscles in a constant state of contraction. It restricts blood flow and causes lactic acid to pool in the tissue. Unlike grinding, there is no audible sign, so most people have no idea how often or how forcefully they clench. Over time it contributes to headaches, tooth sensitivity, and jaw fatigue that gradually worsens without treatment.

Why can TMJ disorders cause headaches and neck pain?

Yes, TMJ disorders can cause headaches and neck pain. When the jaw joint is irritated or the surrounding muscles are overloaded, the body responds by keeping those muscles in a constant state of tension. That tension does not stay contained to the jaw. It radiates into the temples, behind the eyes, down through the neck, and into the upper back. The muscles involved in jaw function are connected to a broader network of head and neck muscles. Dysfunction in one area affects the others.

Explore more of our dental services

Visit Orthodontic Alliances

We can see you as soon as tomorrow!