Do you suffer from chronic earaches? If you have persistent ear pain, you may need to see your Pella dentist. Many people suffer from constant ear and headaches might be experiencing symptoms of a common, and painful, dental problem. TMJ disorder causes a popping in the jaw and make eating and talking difficult. This issue also causes nearly constant earaches. Thankfully, your Pella general dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Allen, explains what TMD is and the proper treatments available.
What is TMJ?
TMJ disorder affects the temporomandibular joints, which control the movement of the jaw. Whether from exhaustion, constant strain, or other factors, damage occurs to the joints and causes a myriad of painful symptoms. There a variety of causes of TMJ, including:
- Stress
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding
- Malocclusion, or a misaligned bite
- Injury
- Hereditary malformations
In addition to earaches, patients also report tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, as well as soreness in the face and neck.
Treatment from Your Pella Dentist
Dr. Allen offers treatment for patients suffering from TMD. Over time, treatment will ease the pain in the jaw and end the irritating earaches. To start, Dr. Allen will address the causes of your TMJ disorder.
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is usually caused by a misaligned bite or stress. Dr. Allen and our team offer custom occlusal splints that reposition the jaw. A splint eliminates teeth grinding and allows the muscles in your jaw to relax. Soon, the constant ear and headaches stop as well. Patients suffering from TMJ disorder for an extended time usually sustain damage to their teeth. Some report cracked or chipped teeth, while others have ground their teeth down to point of exposing sensitive dentin.
Dr. Allen offers several restorative dentistry procedures to strengthen your teeth and repair the damage from TMJ. Our restorative services include:
Schedule a Visit Today
Dr. Jeffrey Allen provides comfortable dental care to patients of all ages. Call (641) 628-1121 today to schedule a checkup and cleaning, cosmetic consultation, or second-opinion visit. We are located on the west side of the historic town square in Pella, IA. Please see the map for directions.