For those who suffer with a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), commonly called TMJ, the added stress of the holiday season can increase teeth grinding and other symptoms of TMJ.
Stress is a common factor in TMJ, frequently causing patients to clench their jaw or teeth, grind their teeth and experience increased tension in the jaw and the temporomandibular joint (the TMJ).
Dr. Rajeev Upadya, a general and restorative dentist in Florham Park, has extensive post graduate education and specialized training in the treatment of bite disorders such as TMJ. Dr. Upadya is a graduate of the Dawson Academy and is uniquely qualified to evaluate and treat TMJ.
The successful treatment of bite disorders such as TMJ can be complex and providing long term results relies on the proper diagnosis of the underlying imbalance in the bite. Dr. Upadya uses digital technology called Tekscan (T-scan) to evaluate the precision and force of a patient’s bite : patients bite down on a sensor and 3-D images are created which can be used to analyze their bite and identify areas of imbalance. In addition to Tekscan, Dr. Upadya can examine a patient’s bite using joint vibration analysis (JVA). Dr. Upadya will also perform a thorough evaluation of a patient’s entire occlusal system before creating a customized treatment plan.
There are a wide variety of procedures and treatments that can be used for TMD, starting with the use of a night guard to prevent teeth grinding. This conservative approach is often effective in relieving the symptoms of TMJ and preventing damage to the teeth or TMJ.
For patients who have damaged teeth- either from the TMD or as a root cause- Dr. Upadya may recommend a restorative procedure to realign the teeth. This may involve reshaping the teeth with tooth bonding or crowns, realigning the teeth with orthodontics, or replacing missing teeth. All of these possible treatments will restore balance in the occlusal system.
If you have noticed any of the above mentioned symptoms of TMJ, contact Dr. Upadya at Esthetic Dental Care in Florham Park for a complete evaluation and customized treatment.