Woman with jaw pain

TMJ Treatment

Temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMJ disorder, or TMD, is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the jaw joint.

The professionals at Gulch Dental Studio in Nashville, TN, can treat TMD to relieve pain and improve quality of life.

Patients often don't realize how dramatically TMJ treatment can change their lives. What would your life look like without jaw pain?

Understanding the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

Finger pointing at jaw joint of a skull
The temporomandibular joint is the hinge joint that connects the mandible to the skull. The temporomandibular joints are put under considerable pressure from speaking and chewing. Temporomandibular disorders often develop when there is too much stress on the TMJ, affecting the jaw joint as well as any surrounding muscles, tendons, and nerves.

What is Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder? 

You have one temporomandibular joint on each side of your jaw. Damaging one or both of these joints can lead to localized and more widespread discomfort and pain. In the simplest terms, TMD occurs when the jaw joints become inflamed. This can happen for a number of reasons, including: 

  • Misalignment
  • Injury
  • Poor posture
  • Stress
  • Disk erosion
  • Arthritis 

Get Relief from Temporomandibular Disorders Contact Us Today!

At Gulch Dental Studio in downtown Nashville, TN, we offer relief for patients suffering from TMD. We see great results in addressing TMJ issues by providing:

  • Custom night guards that prevent teeth grinding (bruxism)
  • Therapy using BOTOX® injections to relax the jaw muscles

If you are suffering from TMJ problems, come see how we can help at our innovative and comfortable studio. Schedule a consultation today by contacting us online. You can also reach us by phone.

Call a Nashville Dentist Today

(615) 953-3068

our office
Our office can alleviate jaw soreness and other TMD symptoms if you clench or grind your teeth.

Gulch Dental Studio Gives Nashville a Reason to Smile

1

William Coffey

2021

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I’ve traveled all over the country, this place uses the most updated technology I’ve seen. Great service, friendly people and the dental work speaks volumes. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking for superior service.

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Ally Honeywell

2021

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I went to Gulch Studio yesterday for a whitening, and had a great experience all around. Dr. Scott Harris and his staff are absolutely amazing and super friendly. The office is super cozy and comfortable. I highly recommend! Thank you guys!

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How Do I Know if I Have TMD?

You may be suffering from TMJ disorder if you experience the following symptoms:

  • Pain or tenderness in your jaw
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Migraine-like headaches
  • Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
  • Pain in and around your ear
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
  • Stiff or tight neck muscles
  • Shoulder pain
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Muscle spasms in the jaw

Many patients also experience a grating sensation as their jaw moves. Others may hear a popping sound when chewing or opening their mouth.

Why You Need Joint Disorder Treatment

Man holding jaw in pain

Left untreated, these symptoms can have negative effects on your quality of life, including persistent jaw discomfort, sleep impairment, and pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. TMJ disorder can also lead to orthodontic complications that cause long-term damage.

Because these symptoms are not exclusive to TMJ problems, it is important to seek diagnosis from experts in temporomandibular joints.

Let's take a look at how a misaligned bite can cause TMJ disorder:

illustration of TMJ disorder
You can see how the temporomandibular joint is part of an interconnected system of parts, which includes bone and cartilage as well as muscles and other soft tissues. An injury or misalignment to just one part of this network can lead to poor overall jaw function.

How Can TMD Be Treated?

At Gulch Dental Studio in Nashville, TN, we offer two treatments for TMJ disorder. The treatment that is right for you will depend on the cause and stage of your condition. In cases where our doctors are not able to help you develop an effective treatment plan, we can refer you to a specialist.

Night guard

Custom Night Guards

To help our patients suffering from bruxism, we provide custom night guards that you can wear while sleeping. These night guards are designed specifically to fit snugly around your teeth. Ensuring a proper fit is of the utmost importance as it will protect your teeth from the harmful effects of teeth grinding, as well as provide cushioning for your jaw muscles. To create an appliance personalized to your smile, we will need to take an impression which will be sent to our trusted dental lab. 

Botox

BOTOX Cosmetic

Muscle relaxants are a common and effective treatment for TMJ issues. At our office, we proudly offer BOTOX Cosmetic to help relax the muscles around the jaw joints. Relaxing these muscles prevents them from clenching, grinding, and creating tension. This can provide relief from jaw pain and headaches. Our doctors can inject BOTOX in our office during one quick appointment. Patients may begin to feel muscle tenderness disappear almost immediately.

Our Doctors Are Here for You Get in Touch with Gulch Dental Studio

In our luxurious and modern dental studio in Nashville, TN, our doctors provide customized treatment options for TMJ problems. These procedures have helped many patients find relief from their pain and discomfort.

If you believe you are experiencing TMJ disorder symptoms, contact us online or call:

(615) 953-3068

Woman holding jaw in pain

High-Quality Dentistry in Downtown Nashville

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Ishi von Meier

2021

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Had my first cleaning here had a great experience, Sydney was very gentle but thorough. The staff and the Dr are all super cool. Also I was able to actually get an appointment within a week or so, some other dentists were booked out for 3 months+ Recommended

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Travis Stem

2021

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Excellent facility. Excellent employees. The dentist was very friendly and considerate of my time and situation. He worked hard to ensure my tooth was fixed quickly as possible. 

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TMD Is Often Tied to Inflammation in the Jaw Joint

TMJ Timeline

When you come to our Nashville office for a TMJ consultation, you can expect roughly the following timeline:

Step 1: Initial Consultation

Our dentists will ask about your symptoms, review your medical history, and examine your bite. We want to understand your concerns and your wellness goals. This will help us develop a customized treatment plan.

Step 2: X-Rays

The dentist will take x-rays of your jaw to get a closer look at the temporomandibular joint. Based on these high-resolution images, we can determine if the TMJ is indeed the cause of your symptoms and determine the right course of action.

Step 3: Treatment

If the X-rays reveal problems with your TMJ, our dentist will recommend a treatment plan. Among the options available at our practice are BOTOX Cosmetic therapy and custom night guards. If your specific case requires a different treatment option, such as orthodontic work or surgery, we can refer you to a specialist.

Step 4: Follow-Up

At Gulch Dental Studio, we care about our patients and don't want to see them in pain. After we set you up on a treatment plan, we will want to know if it's working. We will schedule a follow-up appointment at our Nashville office to assess your progress. You can expect us to check on you to make sure your treatment is effective and your symptoms are fading.

In addition to BOTOX injections and custom bite splints for sleep, there are lifestyle changes that may be able to relieve some of your TMJ pain and other symptoms.

Learn About Your Treatment Options Come Visit Gulch Dental Studio

You don't have to live with facial pain and limited jaw movement. The team at Gulch Dental Studios in Nashville can remedy temporomandibular disorders using different methods. When you come in for a consultation at our office, we can determine if physical therapy exercises in addition to other TMJ treatment options will be beneficial to you. Contact Gulch Dental Studio online or give us a call today.

Call Our Office in Nashville

(615) 953-3068

We're Here to Solve Your Dental Problems

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Christopher Bland

2021

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Easy to book appointment. Incredible location in the Gulch. I will for sure be coming back every 6 months for my regular cleaning.

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Mike Lawson

2021

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They give off such a positive energy. As much as I do not want to go to the dentist, when I have to, this is where I will go. Very good people.

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Isn't BOTOX a Cosmetic Treatment?

Some patients are surprised when we recommend using BOTOX Cosmetic as a treatment for TMJ-related problems. It is true that BOTOX is best known as a cosmetic treatment, but it produces its cosmetic results by working as a muscle relaxer. When it relaxes facial muscles, it can reduce wrinkles. When applied to the TMJs, it can loosen up the muscle and alleviate pain and tightness. Treating TMJ disorder with BOTOX is low-risk and widely accepted among the dental community.

Botox injections
BOTOX injections are often recommended to relax overactive jaw muscles. This helps prevent excessive clenching and grinding of the teeth that can strain the jaw.

TMJ Disorder FAQ

Can a TMJ disorder just go away on its own?

In certain cases, yes. TMJ disorders may only be temporary, coinciding with a brief bout of teeth grinding or a particularly stressful time in a person's life. It's important to speak about your joint dysfunction symptoms with your dentist, particularly if your symptoms are chronic or getting noticeably worse over time.

What causes teeth grinding (bruxism)?

Teeth grinding is most often caused by poor dental alignment, excessive stress, and the use of certain medications. In many cases, TMJ pain and other TMD symptoms can be reduced by properly treating a patient's teeth grinding.

Is there any way to prevent a TMJ disorder?

Since teeth grinding and temporomandibular disorders are often linked, prevention methods often involve anything that reduces the risk of clenching teeth at night. This might include orthodontic care, stress-relief techniques, and proper posture.

What if non-invasive treatment is not effective?

If mouth guards, BOTOX injections, and lifestyle changes do not significantly relieve TMD symptoms, more invasive therapies may be recommended. This includes arthrocentesis, which uses needles to wash out the jaw joint and remove scar tissue; arthroscopy, which allows surgeons to identify and remove inflamed tissue through a small incision; and open surgery on the jaw joint.

A Dental Care Leader in Nashville

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Jillian Lentz

2022

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I am extremely sensitive when it comes to any matter regarding my teeth or the word "dentist." I despise going to the dentist BUT Dr. Harris and Jenna were so pleasant, professional, and kind to my anxiety! They made me feel at ease and handled the cleaning and initial exam so carefully. I would 100% recommend GDS and will be doing so to all my friends who just moved here.

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Austin Chase

2021

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Great experience, under the circumstances, needing an emergency fix for a badly chipped front tooth. The staff was friendly. Everything was explained with all questions answered and the end result was awesome. Dr. Harris is an artist :D restoring my million dollar smile ;-) Thx to everyone at Gulch Dental Studio!

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Gulch Dental Studio Team

Gulch Dental Studio

Gulch Dental Studio is a state-of-the-art practice utilizing the latest technology and techniques to enhance your smile. We offer a range of services, including:

Book an appointment by requesting a consultation online or by calling our Nashville office at (615) 953-3068 today.

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224 11th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203

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