When you’re talking to a friend or eating dinner, do you ever think about the mechanics involved in making that happen? In summary, there are hinges located just in front of your ears that allow you to open, close and move your jaw so you can happily have a conversation and enjoy a good meal. That hinge is called your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short. Fortunately, most people don’t need to think about this joint because it functions properly. However, for those who have TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, the symptoms can be quite problematic. Fortunately, there is a solution. Dr. Bobby Carmen offers TMJ therapy in Moore, OK, so sufferers don’t need to think about their TMJ anymore.
For TMJ Therapy, Moore Residents Trust Dr. Carmen
May 1, 2016
Comments Off on For TMJ Therapy, Moore Residents Trust Dr. Carmen
Eliminate the Painful Symptoms of TMJ Disorder with help from Dr. Bobby Carmen
February 28, 2015
Have you ever heard of your temporomandibular joints? No? That’s okay, even though they’re located on either side of the face just in front of the ears, most people haven’t heard of them either. However, if you experience persistent headaches or a host of other painful symptoms, then you may want to spend some time learning about those joints. Dr. Bobby J. Carmen in Norman, OK, treats patients with TMJ disorder, or TMD, so they can get back to living a productive and pain-free life.
Your temporomandibular joints allow you to open and close your mouth, so you can chew, talk, smile, laugh and yawn. If these joints malfunction—whether because of a bite problem that is brought on by misaligned teeth, uneven surfaces on the teeth caused by teeth grinding, or a hard blow to the face—then the consequences can be a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Perhaps the most common symptom is pain when chewing. Other symptoms may include:
- Headaches and migraines
- The feeling of an earache without infection
- Swelling on the side of the face
- A clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth
- Sensitive teeth
- A stiff or locked jaw
- Misaligned teeth or other changes in your bite
TMJ Therapy in Norman, OK
If Dr. Carmen does diagnose you with TMD, then the goals are to arrest it, protect teeth from further damage, and correct underlying bite misalignment. To do this, Dr. Carmen may prescribe an oral appliance that you’ll wear at night to reduce stress on your jaw. You’ll also want to avoid eating hard and chewy foods, slouching—good posture can alleviate pain in your head, neck and shoulders—and stressful situations as much as possible, which naturally cause people to clench their teeth.
Call Our Office Today
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, then call Dr. Bobby Carmen today to schedule a consultation to determine if the cause is TMD. Dr. Carmen serves patients in Norman, OK, as well as the surrounding communities of Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and central Oklahoma and beyond.
Comments Off on Eliminate the Painful Symptoms of TMJ Disorder with help from Dr. Bobby Carmen
TMJ Therapy with Dr. Carmen Can Help With Pain
December 20, 2013
TMJ pain affects millions of people, forcing them to live with piercing pain and constant uneasiness. Although you may think nothing can alleviate you of your pain, as part of our family dentistry practice, Dr. Bobby Carmen is able to help. We will make sure you will be able to live your life pain-free and happier!
The TMJ, temporomandibular joint, is a small joint located where the lower jaw meets the skull. There are many things that can cause TMJ pain such as grinding teeth, arthritis, and the joint itself. The side effects of TMJ pain include not being able to open your mouth all the way, hearing a popping or clicking noise when you open your mouth, and much more. One way to help with your TMJ pain may involve wearing a mouthguard. The mouthguard prevents your teeth from grinding as well as clenching your jaw. Because every person is different, the mouthguards should be different as well. The mouthguard will be custom made specifically for you, and is a wonderful step in relieving you of your TMJ pain.
You can also do jaw massages to help with TMJ pain. If you massage your temple and jaw, it increases blood circulation, helping with the pain. Also, good posture helps! A straight back and a relaxed neck can really make a difference!
If you feel as though Dr. Carmen is able to help you with you TMJ pain, or you have any questions about treatment options, make an appointment at our office, and our experienced and knowledgeable team will be ready to help you with anything you need!
Contact our Norman office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Carmen. Our team can’t wait to leave you with a happier and healthier smile. We also serve the areas of Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and beyond.
Comments Off on TMJ Therapy with Dr. Carmen Can Help With Pain
Give Your Teeth a Break with TMJ Therapy from Dr. Carmen
April 19, 2013
When asked to name common health conditions that a dentist could treat, most potential patients would probably start with typical ailments of the teeth and gums, such as cavities, cracks, and periodontal disease. But did you know that some of the greatest pain you can experience as a result of an oral-health condition isn’t caused by areas that you brush and/or floss around at all? Located just in front of your ears are small joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull, which are usually referred to as temporomandibular joints, or TMJ. While little, these joints are massively important; in fact, they contain a complex system of blood vessels, nerves, and bone. Worse, even a slight misalignment or problem can negatively impact both your dental health and your overall wellbeing. Here at Dr. Bobby Carmen’s Norman office, we don’t take problems with the TMJ (commonly called TMJ disorder) lightly. Our dedicated team will do everything in our power to help ease your pain and get you back to smiling sooner.
How can you help my TMJ disorder?
First, we’ll make sure to inspect your mouth and jaw for any possible signs of TMJ dysfunction during each regular check-up. If we detect any signs of the condition, we’ll work fast in order to prevent damage to your teeth, as well as relieve pain. In most cases, an oral appliance can help hold your jaw in a preferable position during sleep so as to relieve pressure. Additionally, there are several other methods that could help:
- Stress management
- New bite/chewing techniques
- A new sleeping position
- Light temple and jaw massage
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or analgesics
Don’t let pain from TMJ dysfunction ruin one more day – contact our Norman office to schedule an appointment. Dr. Carmen and his team are well-known for providing personalized, precise care that will put your comfort first. We’re also happy to see patients from Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and Central Oklahoma.
Comments Off on Give Your Teeth a Break with TMJ Therapy from Dr. Carmen
Take the Pressure off Your Smile with a Nightguard
July 12, 2012
Day-to-day life is stressful, there’s no doubt about that. Demands at work, hectic commutes, and the rapid flow of life itself can all be enough to leave you feeling tense. That spells bad news for your health, but also for your smile.
It’s not uncommon to react to stress by clenching your teeth. In fact, it’s a pretty natural response. But no matter how natural it might be, it’s not healthy. Over time, clenching and grinding can harm your teeth and your jaw, causing painful symptoms and ruining your oral health.
So it might seem that the simplest way to treat this problem—which is called bruxism—is to just stop clenching and grinding your teeth. But unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Many patients who struggle with bruxism don’t even know they’re struggling, because they grind and clench their teeth while they’re sleeping. That makes it difficult to just stop.
But using a comfortable, custom-made nightguard, it’s possible for Dr. Carmen to provide his Norman-area patients with the relief they’ve been looking for.
Nightguards work by preventing the clenching and grinding that can so easily damage your teeth and jaw muscles. To experience relief, all you have to do is slip it on before you go to bed. Then, you can rest comfortably through the night and wake up feeling better than you have in a long time.
Learn More Today
Are you ready to learn more about how you can stop bruxism with a nightguard? Call Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office today to schedule an appointment with us. Our team happily serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.
Comments Off on Take the Pressure off Your Smile with a Nightguard
TMJ Therapy from Dr. Carmen
September 23, 2011
You’ve probably heard of TMJ, but do you know what it is? Many believe TMJ is a painful condition that involves jaw clicking or jaw pain. And while that’s not far from the mark, TMJ actually stands for nothing more innocuous than temporomandibular joint, which is the joint connecting both sides of your jaw to the bottom of your skull.
TMJ dysfunction is the term we actually use to talk about that painful yet common condition involving jaw, shoulder, neck, and back pain, among other symptoms. And because it’s much more common than you might think, Dr. Carmen checks for TMJ dysfunction in every patient who comes in for a visit, because no one should have to live with unnecessary pain.
Relief from Painful Symptoms
One of the primary ways Dr. Carmen can help you treat TMJ dysfunction is with a physiologic bite appliance, the goal of which is to correct a misaligned bite—one of the primary causes behind TMJ dysfunction.
But an oral appliance isn’t the only way our Norman office can help. Because stress is another leading cause of painful symptoms, learning how you can alleviate it can dramatically affect your daily life. We’ll teach you some helpful relaxation techniques to keep in mind and show you how even paying attention to your posture can make a significant difference.
Want to learn more? Contact our Norman office to schedule your next check-up. Dr. Carmen will thoroughly inspect your smile for TMJ dysfunction, in addition to gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.
Call us today! Relief is just around the corner!
Comments Off on TMJ Therapy from Dr. Carmen