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To our patients, our office will be CLOSED from Monday, July 5th through Friday, July 9th for a much needed vacation!
We look forward to seeing you when we return on Monday, July 12th.

- Dr. Steinbach

TMJ Therapy in Basalt, CO

Protect Your Smile’s Foundation

Dental health doesn’t end at your teeth and gums. To ensure your optimal oral wellness, experienced dentists like Dr. Steinbach and Dr. Van Gorden also examine your jaw to ensure that the foundation of your smile is functioning properly. Your jaw’s health can impact the structure of your teeth, which is why our professionals at Elevate Dental Wellness make sure that the bone is in peak condition. 

When your jaw experiences excess pressure due to trauma or stress, this can lead to pain or discomfort simply from eating and sleeping. When this occurs, one of our expert dentists will check for signs of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

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Elevate Dental Wellness

711 East Valley Road
Suite 201A
Basalt, CO 81621

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(970) 279-5647

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What is TMD?

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on either side of your head by your ears and helps your jaw move so that you can open and close your mouth as well as move it side to side. When these joints or the surrounding muscles and nerves aren’t working properly, it could be signs of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMD is characterized by a jaw popping and clicking sensation while you chew or yawn, as well as persistent pain, headaches, and limited movement throughout your daily life. 

TMJ therapy can alleviate your pain and get you the relief your jaw needs. Learn more about TMD and the different procedures our expert staff offers at Elevate Dental Wellness for patients suffering from constant discomfort.

Causes of TMD
Causes of TMD

The TMJ is a complicated area of your body and there are many reasons why it can malfunction. It’s important to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists to pinpoint the exact cause of your TMD.

Some potential causes of TMD include:

  • Damage to the area due to physical trauma
  • Swelling of joints due to arthritis
  • Ill-bite (malocclusion) due to orthodontic issues 
  • Jaw tension due to clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism) 

These can all put stress on your jaw area and cause pain associated with TMD.

Symptoms of TMJ Issues
Symptoms of TMJ Issues

Understanding the symptoms of TMD can help determine whether you may need to visit our office for further dental intervention from either Dr. Steinbach or Dr. Van Gorden. Some of the most common TMD symptoms include:

  • Sore jawbone joint
  • Inflammation in the jawbone or joint
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Aching face and jaw
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Headaches

If you experience these issues, contact our Basalt office by calling (970) 279-5647. We can schedule a consultation with you to have a look at your jaw joint and determine if TMJ treatment can help you.

TMD and Arthritis 

An underlying condition such as arthritis can affect your TMJ in different ways. Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis and is a condition where the protective cartilage that surrounds the end of your bones wears down over time. If you suffer from this form of arthritis, the cartilage surrounding your temporomandibular joints can also be lost. This can make the joint hurt as you move your jaw since there’s nothing left to pad the bone.

Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women or older patients. In this form, patients experience pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function of their joints. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects your other joints before it makes it to your TMJ, but it can cause your jawbone to become weakened over time.

TMJ Therapy Treatment

When you visit Elevate Dental Wellness, we’ll conduct a series of non-invasive, simple tests to determine if you have TMJ disorder. One of our experienced dentists will conduct a thorough examination of your jaw where they’ll do the following:

  • Perform a tactile exam where they’ll feel along your jaw to determine any points of pain or tenderness. 
  • Have you open and close your mouth so they can listen for any signs of clicking or popping. 
  • Check inside your mouth for signs of teeth grinding, alignment issues, and clenching. 
  • If they suspect TMD, they’ll take detailed x-rays to confirm so they can develop a customized treatment plan suited to address your symptoms. 

With proper treatment, TMD symptoms can generally be reversed. While at-home pain relievers and certain facial exercises can help, some patients require additional treatment to ease their jaw pain quicker.

If your TMD is a result of orthodontic issues, we can address and correct your case. If the cause is due to teeth grinding, we offer nighttime mouthguards that are custom-made to fit your teeth. They may look similar to a sports mouthguard, but they’re designed to keep your teeth from grinding against each other while you sleep. They can also protect you from some of the negative effects of jaw tension.

At Elevate Dental Wellness, we understand that no two patients are the same. You can trust we provide comfortable, personalized, and natural TMJ therapy treatment to find you the relief you’ve been looking for. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a doctor for TMJ?
What causes jaw pain when chewing?
Is ear pain when chewing or yawning normal?
What happens if my TMD goes untreated?

When should I see a doctor for TMJ?

You should see a doctor for your TMJ as soon as you notice an issue. If left untreated, symptoms of TMD can become worse and require more evasive treatment.

Our dentists at Elevate Dental Wellness can thoroughly examine your jaw joints for signs of a disorder and provide comfortable treatment that’ll ease your pain. You’ll be able to prevent issues with your jaw if you seek professional dental treatment.

What causes jaw pain when chewing?

No, ear pain when chewing or yawning isn’t normal and can be a sign of TMD. Since these joints are located in front of your ears on either side of your head, they can affect your hearing and cause pain if there’s an issue.

With treatment, our staff at Elevate Dental Wellness can alleviate your pain and recover from any hearing loss you may have experienced.

Is ear pain when chewing or yawning normal?

No, ear pain when chewing or yawning isn’t normal. This could be a sign of TMD, a disorder affecting your jaw joints. These joints are located on either side of your head, in front of your ears, so they can affect your hearing and cause ear pain if there’s an issue.

With treatment, this pain should go away and any hearing loss you’ve had may be recovered. Our Elevate Dental Wellness dentists can get you back to normal so you won’t feel pain throughout the day.

What happens if my TMD goes untreated?

While chronic pain is the most common symptom of untreated TMD, other potential consequences include:

  • Injury to the jaw including dislocations and lockjaw
  • Increased risk of arthritis of the jaw and other connective tissue diseases
  • Irreversible dental damage due to teeth grinding
  • Gum recession due to teeth grinding

You deserve to live a life free of pain. TMJ treatment is simple and easy as well as inexpensive if your symptoms are treated early.

Get the Treatment You Need

You don’t have to live with persistent jaw pain and popping. With TMJ therapy, you’ll be able to live your daily life without having to worry about TMJ issues. To learn more, contact our office by calling (970) 279-5647 or by filling out our online contact form so a helpful staff member can get back to you.

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