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The sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). You might currently be experiencing pain or tenderness in this area. It might flare up when you chew certain foods or yawn. When you don’t treat your TMJ symptoms, they could lead to a chronic TMJ disorder. This means it is imperative that you talk to a dental professional about the level of discomfort or pain that you are experiencing. It could get to the point that you cannot open or close your jaw correctly, which is something that you want to avoid. With an expert TMJ disorder treatment plan, you can get to the root cause of your pain. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon may offer surgical intervention as the best option.

Before all other TMJ disorder treatments, though, focus on lifestyle modification. When you regularly visit your general dentist, they can be helpful in early detection and treatment. They may recommend cutting out the foods that hurt your joint, massaging your jaw muscles, and utilizing ice packs and heating pads. The majority of patients will be able to resolve their TMJ symptoms without the need for an oral surgeon. But keep in mind that jaw correction surgery isn’t the only way that an oral surgeon can treat your pain. Botox injection treatments have become increasingly popular, due to being minimally invasive and having little to no recovery time necessary. In order to live a pain-free life, think through your options.

Get your TMJ disorder under control with the help of a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon right in the heart of Texas. Dr. Jeff Alford offers his services at Lake Travis Oral Surgery and Bastrop Oral Surgery. He is highly knowledgeable regarding why TMJ disorders arise and what to do depending on their severity. This includes Botox treatments and surgical intervention. Ready to tackle your jaw pain? Reach out to us to learn more about our TMJ disorder treatment options.