TMJ Disorder – Eastside

Are you ready to take the next step towards relieving your uncomfortable symptoms caused by TMJ disorder? The oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery are passionate about helping patients alleviate their discomfort through comprehensive TMJ disorder treatment in northeast Greenville. We utilize the latest technology and advanced techniques to find a treatment method that works for you and meets your individual needs.

Possible Causes of TMJ Disorders? 

While the direct causes of TMJ disorder are unclear, research suggests that a combination of factors may prompt this uncomfortable condition to develop. 

Continual jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and excessive strain on the jaw may cause TMJ disorder, as well as other aspects such as jaw misalignment, disc erosion or displacement, and trauma to the jaw, head, or neck. 

Other health factors like disease, arthritis, infections, genetics, and hormones may also play a role in the development of TMJ disorder. 

Whatever the cause, TMJ can cause a wide range of oral and dental issues, including a misaligned bite, pain, clicking, or grating noise when you open your mouth, or trouble opening your mouth wide. You can find relief with the right TMJ disorder treatment and the experienced doctors of Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery by your side.

Symptoms of a TMJ Disorder

The temporomandibular joints—or TMJs—are strategically designed to support constant motion, allowing us to speak, chew, talk, and open our mouths wide without discomfort. However, when the joints are damaged or misaligned, you can experience discomfort, pain, and other troublesome symptoms. These include: 

• Chronic headaches or migraines 
• Facial pain and/or soreness
• Jaw pain and/or soreness
• Grating, clicking, or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth
• Jaw locking when you open and close your mouth
• Ringing, pressure, or pain in your ears
• Pain behind the eyes
• Sinus pain
• Difficulty biting into or chewing food

If these symptoms sound familiar, we encourage you to contact the Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery for TMJ treatment. We offer surgical and non-surgical treatment options to help you find relief.

Meet Your Doctors

Dr. Erik Reitter

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Dr. TJ Robbins

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Dr. Daniel Cook

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Dr. Peter Franco

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Dr. Matthew Pham

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Dr. Mary Charles Haigler

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Dr. John Nale

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TMJ Disorder Overview 

If conservative treatment methods for your TMJ disorder prove ineffective, your doctor may recommend TMJ surgery as the best course of action to alleviate symptoms. Surgery is often reserved for the most severe cases of TMJ disorder and designated as an outpatient procedure. 

Our oral surgeons treat TMJ disorder using jaw reconstruction, arthrocentesis, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and open-joint surgery. You and your doctor will determine which is right for you depending on the severity of your TMJ disorder symptoms. 

Treatment Options 

At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our experienced surgeons offer a range of non-surgical and surgical treatment options for TMJ disorder. Once your doctor has confirmed the presence of TMJ disorder through a comprehensive evaluation, we will create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your individual needs. 

Initially, we will focus on relieving your TMJ disorder symptoms with non-surgical methods, attempting to take the most conservative route to deliver effective results. This can include pain relievers, anti-inflammatories (including steroid injections), or muscle relaxants that help to relieve muscle spasms and joint pain. 

In addition, we may try orthopedic methods, including orthopedic appliances or mouthguards that reduce teeth clenching and grinding. In many cases, we will combine our treatment methods with at-home self-care techniques such as stress management, eating soft foods, applying ice and hot packs, practicing good posture, doing jaw exercises, and relaxation techniques. 

When conservative TMJ disorder treatment methods do not work to alleviate your symptoms, we will explore the option of TMJ surgery. 

Ultimately, the ideal TMJ treatment for you depends on several factors unique to your particular condition. In most cases, our doctors focus on restoring a comfortable bite and relieving the discomfort associated with TMJ disorder. 

What About Bite Correction or Surgery?

With today’s advanced medicine, we can treat TMJ disorder without surgical intervention. However, this is not always the case for cases with severe TMJ pain. Your doctor may recommend bite correction or surgery to treat the condition and alleviate your symptoms. Learn more about these treatment alternatives by contacting us at (864) 268-6417 and scheduling a consultation with our team.