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A woman clutches her jaw and twists her face in pain. She needs TMJ relief.

Treatment for TMJ Pain in Auburn, IN

a man rubbing on his jaw

What Is TMJ Disorder?

You have two temporomandibular joints (TMJ) — they’re located just below your ears. They work like hinges, allowing your jaw to move in several directions.

TMJ Disorder (TMD) is a condition that affects one or both of your temporomandibular joints. The most frequent cause of TMD is bruxism, which is clenching and teeth grinding that often occurs at night while you sleep. Additional factors that contribute to TMD include arthritis, chewing hard objects such as ice, or an injury caused by a blow to the region.

If your jaw hurts while you’re talking or eating, you hear popping noises when you open or close your mouth, or you suffer from frequent migraines, you could be suffering from TMJ Disorder.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

TMJ has a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Headaches
  • Earaches
  • Pain or Swelling in the TMJ Region
  • Dizziness
  • Clicking or popping noises when you move your jaw
  • Neck pain
  • Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
  • Clenching or grinding your teeth
  • Toothaches
  • Pain when eating

If you notice any of these symptoms, call Dr. Heffelfinger right away at (260) 925-4290. We’ll make it stop hurting, so you can live and eat in comfort.

woman holding a cup in one hand and rubbing on her jaw in the other

We’ll Find the Treatment That’s Right for You

Dr. Nate Heffelfinger has years of experience and special training in providing TMJ care. In fact, he’s a graduate of the Kois Center in Seattle where he’s completed advanced training in occlusion, the science of how your teeth fit together when you bite down.

When you meet with Dr. Heffelfinger, he’ll ask you a series of questions about how your TMD is affecting your life. Then he’ll use specialized diagnostic equipment to find the source of your pain.

We feature a number of treatment options for TMD, such as physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and stress management techniques. Many of our patients in Auburn have found relief using oral appliance therapy. This device is custom-fitted by Dr. Heffelfinger to protect you from clenching and grinding while you sleep.

Treatment for TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders affect the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and jaw muscles that make it possible to open and close your mouth. There are multiple causes for TMJ pain, including tooth and jaw alignment, arthritis, injury, stress, teeth grinding, and even jaw dislocation. To assess what might be the cause of your pain, we’ll conduct a thorough examination to identify tenderness in the jaw muscles, popping, clicking, or difficulty moving. Depending on your situation, we’ll determine the proper treatment to help eliminate your pain.

Treatment of TMJ varies from patient to patient but may include:

Eating Softer Foods

Avoiding nail biting or chewing gum

Use of relaxation exercises to reduce stress and tension in the jaws

Wearing a night guard or bite plate

Fixing an uneven bite

Adjusting or reshaping some teeth

Frequently Asked Questions

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