TMJ & TMD Treatments in Leesburg, VA

We Change Lives By Creating Beautiful Smiles

Choose Us To Treat Your TMJ & TMD

If you are suffering from chronic neck and/or head pain, you may be suffering from TMD (temporomandibular disorder). TMD is a complex disorder that affects the temporomandibular joints in a patient’s jaw. This can make even daily tasks uncomfortable, as this condition leads to pain when a patient chews, yawns, and otherwise moves their jaw.

If you have been diagnosed with TMD, we may have the right solution to meet your needs.

Dr. Tracey Nguyen of Lansdowne Dental Care takes TMJ/TMD cases very seriously and offers high-tech dental solutions for the uncomfortable symptoms related to this disorder. Although it is still difficult to determine what causes TMJ/TMD, it is almost always an issue that affects the muscles or the joint itself. Other causes can be linked to injury, bruxism (also known as tooth grinding), arthritis, stress, and problems with the fluid cushion within the joint, which can all cause problems, including pain and discomfort.

TMD vs TMJ

TMD or temporomandibular disorder is the actual condition that causes patients to feel the related symptoms listed above. TMD and TMJ are used interchangeably at times, although they refer to the same disorder. When someone says TMJ or temporomandibular joint, this person is specifically talking about the joint that causes this pain. While there isn’t a cure for this disorder, the symptoms can be treated to help alleviate the pain associated with them.

The cause of this disorder can be due to the following:

  • Misaligned joints caused by an injury to the face or jawbone area
  • Arthritis that affects the TMJ
  • The act of grinding teeth during sleep hours or anxious hours of the day
  • High-stress levels that lead to facial clenching
  • Much more

Common TMD/TMJ Symptoms

When you visit Lansdowne Dental Care’s office in Lansdowne, VA, Dr. Nguyen will expertly assess your symptoms using the latest technologies. If you have pain that resembles the ones listed above, our dentists can care for you and alleviate your pain with oral devices. If you have problems opening the mouth, have trouble with your jaw locking and unlocking, hear bizarre popping noises, swelling around the jaw, ringing in the ears, and more. These issues are typically related to TMJ/TMD. Dr. Nguyen and the team at Lansdowne Dental Care will quickly, comfortably, and efficiently diagnose your condition.

Once the condition has been diagnosed, treatment options will be explored. Luckily, there are practical treatments that can aid in the pain for these patients.

The Lansdowne Dental Care Center is proud to boast new technology advances, such as the Planmeca ProMax 3D Max x-ray machine. With this machine, a 3-D image of your skull can identify the source of your TMJ/TMD. With this advancement, the team will be able to diagnose which symptoms can be treated and get you on the path to recovery.

Call Our Office Today At (703) 723-7810

Not Sure if You Have TMD/TMJ?

If you have any of the above symptoms, you could be suffering from TMD. You should give your physician a call to schedule an appointment immediately to be officially diagnosed. You can even make an appointment with our Dental Care Office to be diagnosed by Dr. Nguyen. TMD can be challenging to diagnose. The diagnosis can be due to the symptoms present, as sometimes the diagnosis can’t be seen through X-rays. The great deal of pain that comes along with the disorder can be frustrating to deal with. The team of dentists at Lansdowne is committed to ensuring your pain is treated and alleviated as much as possible.

4 Ways To Treat TMD/TMJ

Many patients who have this disorder assume the only treatment is with a CPAP machine. A CPAP machine is a positive airway pressure machine that brings respiratory ventilation for patients with sleep apnea. The symptoms of your disorder will be analyzed in order to find the right treatment.

Orthodontic Treatment

Braces are typically used for younger patients. The use of orthodontics allows the ability for the dentist to shift the alignment of jawbones and teeth around for a perfect alignment. The braces allow for the slow movement of the teeth to widen certain areas to allow for more airway flow.

Cosmetic Dentistry

The use of dental crowns, implants, or bridges can help align teeth and the jaw better. The alignment of these things can allow for better airflow and, therefore, better sleep.

Botox Therapy

Dentists can administer Botox as a therapeutic treatment to ease the pain that a patient may feel with TMD. This type of therapy reduces some fibers in the facial muscles that could feel less painful. Botox can also numb the needed areas for some time.

Custom Night Guards

Custom night guards are among the most recommended solutions for TMD/TMJ. A perfectly tailored mouth guard, created by the Lansdowne dental care center’s lab, will allow for a better night's sleep. The mouthpiece will hold your tongue forward and help the alignment of your jaw to allow the flow of air. Patients like this option as it can be removed in the morning without the need for any form of commitment. Patients can wake up feeling well-rested and energized for the day ahead!

If you are wondering just which options are best for you, book a visit with Dr. Nguyen. Do not let the pain of TMD affect your daily life. Take the time to visit our office for the option to treat the symptoms. Give us a call today at 703-750- 8185, or use our online contact form and a member of our staff will respond promptly.

head shot 1

Meet Dr. Tracey Nguyen

Dr. Tracey Nguyen received her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Magna cum laude, at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Nguyen is trained in all phases of implant dentistry, and has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry. She is also a manuscript/review editor for the Academy of General Dentistry.

More About Dr. Nguyen

We are located in Leesburg, VA but proudly serve Lansdowne, Reston, Broadlands, Ashburn, Sterling, and all neighboring communities.