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Can TMJ Jaw Exercises Relieve My Jaw Popping?
Can TMJ Jaw Exercises Relieve My Jaw Popping?

Can TMJ Jaw Exercises Relieve My Jaw Popping?

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Can TMJ jaw exercises relieve my jaw popping and prevent needing a night guard? Whenever I yawn, chew, or laugh, my jaw pops. I can even feel it popping in my sleep. I read that jaw exercises and heat and cold packs can help. I get some relief from heat and cold packs. But I probably need to do the right jaw exercises. I looked on YouTube and did the exercises taught by a few physical therapists, but trying to do the movements seemed to increase the pain. Can you recommend jaw exercises for TMJ? I have a strong gag reflex and want to avoid wearing a night guard because I think it will make sleeping even more challenging. Thanks. Cheyenne

Cheyenne,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Tostado’s and Dr. Acuña’s office. Popping noises when you open or close your jaw is a symptom of TMJ, but you need a comprehensive exam to identify the cause of your signs and symptoms.

Other TMJ symptoms include:

  • Earaches
  • Headaches
  • Neck pain
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Teeth grinding

Can TMJ Exercises Relieve Jaw Popping?

Diagram of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding structures

A prosthodontist can diagnose and treat TMJ concerns

Whether TMJ exercises can relieve jaw popping and prevent the need for a night guard depends on the severity of your case. Jaw exercises may not be enough to give you relief. You may need a customized night guard, or a dentist may need to adjust your bite (how your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite down).

A custom night guard has these purposes:

  • Minimize teeth grinding, which can lead to TMJ
  • Align your jaw
  • Relax your jaw muscles

We recommend scheduling an exam with a dentist with training and experience in TMJ diagnosis and treatment. Without an accurate diagnosis, TMJ exercises may do more harm than good.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

I Got Invisalign and Now I Have TMJ

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I am 7 months into Invisalign, and now I have what I think are TMJ issues. My jaw hurts, and it locks. Also, I can hear some clicking in my ears. This never happened before Invisalign. So, I am connecting these issues with Invisalign.

I am upset because I specifically wanted Invisalign for my job, which involves a lot of travel and presentations to potential clients. Now the thought of having braces is scary. I know that it will affect my effectiveness and ability to get contracts. How many people are going to take a 46-year-old woman with braces seriously?

It is also disappointing that my dentist didn’t tell me that this might be an issue before getting Invisalign. I anticipate a lot of defensiveness from him because that is just his nature. So, I need to ask an independent dentist before confronting my dentist with this concern. Maybe I will explore lingual braces, although I hear those are painful. Unbelievable. I will have a TMJ dentist do an exam if this is common. Can Invisalign cause TMJ? Thanks, Lashawn from Memphis, TN

Lashawn,

Diagram of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding structures

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

Thank you for your question. Although Dr. Tostado would need to examine your teeth and x-rays for an accurate diagnosis, we can answer your question.

Does Invisalign Cause TMJ?

Orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign, does not cause TMJ. Still, movement of your bite can cause pre-existing joint dysfunction to worsen. The manufacturer of Invisalign cautions that oral appliances may aggravate TMJ disorder. It would be best to tell your dentist about the jaw-joint problems you are experiencing.

Your dentist will interrupt your orthodontic treatment to address your TMJ discomfort. It is essential to address the issue first to prevent it from worsening. Your dentist will later determine whether your treatment with Invisalign should continue or if another type of orthodontic treatment would be best for your case.

If you feel you need a second opinion, schedule an appointment with a dentist trained in diagnosing and treating TMJ.

San Antonio prosthodontist Dr. Gilberto Tostado sponsors this post.

How Long Can I Use Anbesol for My Toothache Before It’s An Emergency?

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Man holding his face portraying toothache pain that Anbesol will not improveI started having pain in a bottom left molar about two months ago, but I kept taking Aleve, and it helped. Anbesol also seems to help if I use it with Aleve but not by itself. I didn’t call my dentist (2 hours away) about it because I hoped it would go away. Besides that, I got scared about what might be happening to my tooth, and I hate drills or anything else that goes along with getting a tooth fixed. I have pain and swelling in my tooth.

Right now, the swelling is worse than the pain. I thought the jaw pan was TMJ, but my mom says it’s an infection. I’m swamped with classes at UGA and am afraid of falling further behind with this tooth issue. Can I wait another week or two, or do I have to try to find another dentist? Also, is there anything else I can do at home to maybe calm things down because I really prefer to see my dentist? – Thanks. Rylan from Georgia

Rylan – You should not put off making a dental appointment. Your tooth is infected and will worsen until it is treated. Although your jaw pain may have felt like TMJ symptoms, the infection is probably causing bone pain.

How Long Can You Keep Using Anbesol for Your Toothache?

If you began to feel tooth pain two months ago, it is time to stop using Anbesol and see a dentist. An untreated can also affect other teeth. The infection can spread into the bloodstream and become life-threatening as time progresses. You may be able to quickly get a recommendation on a dentist from a friend or family member. Many dentists accept emergency appointments. Look online for an experienced dentist who accepts emergency appointments. They will examine your tooth and stop the pain. The dentist will explain your treatment plan. You can expect root canal treatment, and you will probably need a dental crown to protect the tooth.

Get your infection treated quickly.

San Antonio prosthodontist Dr. Gilberto Tostado sponsors this post.

I needed a root canal but my dentist overlooked it

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In August, my dentist put a crown over one of my upper right molars. The tooth was cracked and had an old silver filling in. The dentist had problems getting my tooth numb, so it felt like electric shocks when she was drilling.

When the dentist checked my bite with my crown, I told her that it was uncomfortable and hurt to bite down. She adjusted the crown twice while I was there. And when I still wasn’t happy with it, she told me to give it a couple of weeks. It hurt to floss around the crown. I gave it a couple of weeks, and nothing improved. In mid-October, I called the office again, complained, and insisted on a new crown. My dentist adjusted the crown instead and started talking about two more crowns that I needed.

I declined getting two more crowns until I knew that the first one was okay. My dentist asked me to wait two more weeks after adjusting to the crown. Shouldn’t a crown fit correctly when I leave the dental office? Anyway, the crown still wasn’t right, so I had another appointment with my dentist. She removed the crown and said I need root canal treatment. I am wondering if this is an issue my dentist should have noticed before placing a crown. Now she says that the tooth has a periapical abscess.

My dentist has not offered a refund or admitted that she misjudged the condition of my tooth. I want to get a refund before switching dentists. Do you have any advice? Bronwyn from Tennessee

 

Bronwyn,

Although Dr. Tostado would need to examine your tooth and see your x-rays for an accurate diagnosis, we will explain what we can, based on the information you gave us.

A cracked tooth with an old filling

When a tooth cracks, it often needs treatment in addition to a crown. If a tooth has internal damage, putting a crown over it won’t make the injury go away.

  • A cracked tooth is t risk for root canal treatment.
  • Some sensitivity after getting a crown is normal, but it shouldn’t linger. And you should not feel pain.
  • A crown that is made and placed well will blend with your bit without you noticing it.
  • Your dentist should have told you that you might need a root canal in the future.

Based on your conversation with your dentist, it seems that she was more concerned about completing all your dental work rather than getting it right.

But getting a refund, I think, is going to be tricky in your situation. To do that, you would need

Can You Get a Refund from Your Dentist?

It is possible to get a refund from your dentist if you can prove that your dentist didn’t meet the standard of care that she promised. You have several ways to try to get a refund. Although you may not have a case against your dentist for wanting to continue treatment with two more crowns, your new faulty crown might give you a good chance.

  • A lawsuit – A lawsuit requires that you can prove your dentist’s negligence. Your description sounds like your dental was negligent, but the details you gave us aren’t enough to determine if she is liable. A malpractice or consumer rights attorney can decide that for you.
  • Complain to the dental board – Although you can file a complaint, the Tennessee state dental board might consider your case as a dental procedure that went bad. Although it seems that your dentist doesn’t know how to adjust your bite, she did not drastically deviate from protocol.
  • Online reviews – You can tell your dentist that you will leave negative online reviews about your experience. Check her current online reviews. If they are mostly positive, a negative review will concern her. Otherwise, it might not have an impact.

Periapical Abscess and Root Canal Treatment

A periapical abscess is a collection of pus at your tooth root that results from an infection. It means that the pulp—living tissue, vessels, and nerves—inside the tooth is dead. Dead nerves inside a tooth mean that you won’t feel any pain inside the tooth from root canal treatment.

Phases of root canal treatment

After root canal treatment, a dentist must ensure the crown fits well to avoid TMJ issues

But an upper molar tooth is more challenging to treat. An endodontist (root canal specialist) can treat your tooth, and you won’t need an extraction. If you ask a dentist to extract the tooth, you will need to replace it. Otherwise, your teeth will begin to drift, disrupt your bite, and possibly cause TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues. TMJ symptoms affect more than your teeth. Symptoms can include:

  • Earaches
  • Headaches
  • Jaw stiffness, clicking, or pain
  • Neck pain
  • Dizziness
  • Painful talking, yawning, or chewing
  • Tinnitus (ear ringing)

Our Recommendation

It seems that you are uncomfortable with your dentist. We recommend that you get a second opinion from a dentist with advanced training in occlusion and bite. The dentist will understand how to achieve harmony between your teeth so you can speak and eat comfortably.

And you may need a referral to a root canal specialist to save your tooth and avoid the need for a dental implant or partial denture.

We wish you the best. Please let us know the results.

Gilberto Tostado, DDS, of San Antonio, TX, sponsors this post.

 

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