TMJ Treatment – Burbank, CA

Saying Goodbye to Chronic Jaw Pain

Inflammation with the jaw joints can cause intense pain that makes it difficult to function day to day. Without proper treatment, it can make eating, speaking, and other common facial movements painful and nearly impossible. Dr. Ruiz and our dental team want to help dentistry patients suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) by offering safe and effective solutions. We’ll evaluate your facial and oral structures to determine the right method(s) of treatment, so you can enjoy a better quality of life. Give us a call today if you need TMJ treatment in Burbank, CA.

 

A TMJ Dentist Who WILL Relieve TMJ & Occlusal Symptoms

 

Why Choose Dr. Ruiz & Associates for TMJ Treatment?

  • BOTOX to Improve Jaw Function
  • Dentist Who Puts Patients First
  • Available Extended Hours & Saturdays

 

Diagnosis & Treatment

Man in pain before diagnosis and T M J treatment

The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the head. The term “TMJ” is often used to refer to TMJ disorder, also called TMD, which occurs when the jaw joint becomes stressed, injured, or misaligned. TMJ disorder may result due to several different factors, such as stress, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), arthritis in the TMJ, or trauma and injury to the head, neck, or jaw.

 

You may suffer from TMD if you experience frequent jaw pain or facial pain. TMJ disorders may also cause:

 

  • Grinding, clicking, or popping sounds in the jaw when you open and close your mouth
  • Inability to open your mouth wide to speak, yawn, or chew
  • A locked or stuck jaw
  • Pain when chewing and biting
  • Pain in the neck, shoulders, or ears
  • Frequent headaches

 

Equilibration / Occlusal Adjustments

Animated facial profile used to explain equilibration and occlusal adjustment

If your bite is misaligned, we can implement an occlusal adjustment by identifying where your teeth do not align properly. Using advanced techniques, we can file the biting surface so that teeth more readily fit together. As a result, this takes additional pressure off your jaw and creates a more harmonious function.

 

Occlusal Splints

Hand holding a custom occlusal splint

An occlusal splint can be created for your smile should Dr. Ruiz believe this unique device can be a beneficial component of your treatment plan. By wearing a splint while sleeping, your jaw muscles and joints can become more relaxed, allowing them to rest in a more appropriate position. Over time, it will become accustomed to its new location, creating a more pleasing experience.

 

BOTOX ® Injections

Dental patient receiving Botox injection

BOTOX® therapy in Burbank, California, has been used as a very successful treatment to manage severe migraines. The full migraine protocol always includes the masticatory (chewing) muscles because they are a big part of the problem.

In the dental setting, we focus solely on the muscles involved in chewing or bite-related headaches. Allowing our expert BOTOX nurse, Natasha Gibson, to do a full evaluation can be beneficial, especially since she and Dr. Ruiz can better diagnose and assess if you are a good candidate. If so, we can deliver treatment for debilitating headaches, migraines, and destructive dental-muscular conditions.

Botox Expert Nurse Natasha Gibson at Dr. Ruiz Dental Office