21721 Hwy 59, Robertsdale, AL 36567 
(251) 947-3636
TMJ in Robertsdale, AL
Get jaw and joint pain relief at your local dentist, Robertsdale Dental Care.
Do you have persistent jaw pain that gets in the way of your daily life, affecting mood, concentration, and overall health? The issue could be caused by TMJ disorder.
TMJ, short for temporomandibular joints, includes the jaw muscles and joints that let you open and close your mouth to eat, speak, and yawn. The TMJ is a complex system, and if there’s a problem with it, this prevents the jaw from functioning properly – called a TMJ disorder. Causes of TMJ disorder include teeth grinding, jaw misalignment, stress, injury, and arthritis.
Signs of TMJ disorder:
We can help diagnose and treat your TMJ disorder so that you return to normalcy.
Treating your TMJ disorder may successfully relieve pain and discomfort.
We’ll create a treatment plan that’s easy to follow.
Your whole health will improve when your oral health improves.
After an initial consultation at Robertsdale Dental CareClic to open the link in the same tab in Robertsdale, AL we’ll examine your jaw and explore different TMJ treatments. Treatment starts with the easiest option first.
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Step 1
We diagnose TMJ disorder by examining the jaw, which includes feeling and listening to the jaw when opened and closed. We also check the jaw’s range of motion and gently press on areas around the jaw to locate areas of discomfort. Additionally, we take a Cone Beam CT scan, a type of 3-D X-ray, to visualize the joints. This image is read by an Oral and Maxillo-facial radiologist to look for any pathology in the joint or active degenerative joint disease. Dr. Northcutt will discuss your results at a later appointment.
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Step 2
Dr. Northcutt may recommend a Functional Orthotic Stabilization Appliance (FOSA) which is a totally customized splint for you to sleep in at night. The FOSA provides support for your bite and allows your jaw muscles to relax.
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Step 3
After your pain is resolved, Dr. Northcutt can discuss types of treatments to rehabilitate your bite and keep you pain-free. The treatments may include crowns, bridges, implants, orthodontics, jaw surgery, equilibration, or any combination of these.