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TMJ Treatment-sched 4/11

Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Oakleaf, Orange Park

Untreated, the painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ or TMD, can lead to progressive dental problems and affect your ability to speak, eat and breathe normally.

TMJ and Neuromuscular Dentistry

If you are experiencing TMJ symptoms , your first step should be a consultation with an experienced neuromuscular dentist like Dr. B. Keith Blankenship, who can accurately diagnose whether TMJ is the source.

Dr. Blankenship is a Fellow of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, the premier post-graduate dental school for cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry. Using X-rays, jaw measurements, and documentation of jaw movement and jaw joint sounds, Dr. Blankenship can determine your jaw’s correct alignment and develop an individualized treatment plan that will relieve your pain and improve your overall dental health.

TMJ Treatment Options

Treating TMJ can be as simple as correcting long-term, poor dental health habits such as teeth grinding, ice chewing or nail biting. Because each TMJ case is specific to the individual, the key is determining your proper jaw position and customizing treatment to maintain that alignment.

Common TMJ treatments include:

Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) to relax your muscles and allow your jaw to rest in its correct position
Dental work to reshape or reposition teeth
Dental crowns to preserve and strengthen teeth
Use of a custom orthotic to retrain jaw muscles and/or prevent teeth grinding
Physical therapy

If you live in the Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Oakleaf, or Orange Park, Florida areas and have questions about TMJ or would like to schedule a consultation to address symptoms that suggest TMJ, please contact the neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry professionals at Blankenship Dentistry.