PRECiDENT Center for Facial & Dental Medicine is a combined multi-specialty dental medicine center created for anyone with unresolved issues that affect their Face, Teeth, Smile, Jaws, and Airway. About PRECiDENT: Our philosophy is that each patient is unique and deserves a comprehensive approach to their oral health.
PRECiDENT is a collaborative group of medical & dental specialists dedicated to technology and education, working together to meet your needs and exceed your expectations with the most cutting edge solutions available. Our evaluations and treatments are completely comprehensive in nature and will likely offer you information about your dental health status and recommended treatment you may not have known existed.
Keep in mind, your jaw joint is similar to the other joints in the body. When you hurt your knee or your hip, your doctor will usually tell you to stay off of it for a while to let it heal. Your TMJ is no different. If your TMJ is damaged in any way, its important to rest it. We usually recommend going on a soft diet for a while to see if that helps your pain at all.
Ever wear a knee wrap or brace? Depending on the situation, your surgeon may prescribe a bite splint that acts in a similar way, by supporting your jaw in its correct position relative to the joint. This can reduce pain and prevent further damage. Some patients respond well to this mouthpiece and find relief for months or years; others do not. And even those who do find relief may need to take additional measures in the future. Sometimes, however, people find complete relief and never have any issues again.
In more severe cases, the only lasting treatment for a TMJ disorder is surgery. Of course, all surgeries have risks, and our surgeons at PRECiDENT will carefully consider all other options, first. If surgery is necessary for optimal health, then your surgeon will review all of your health history and risk factors to minimize any potential complications.