If you experience discomfort in your jaw, facial pain, headaches, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth, you might have a temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMJ. Dr. Kelley Mingus, a renowned dentist based in Bend, Oregon, offers advanced, holistic TMJ treatment to alleviate these troubling symptoms. Holistic approaches to TMJ treatment focus on understanding and addressing the root cause of your discomfort, rather than just treating the symptoms. This in-depth look at holistic TMJ treatment will explore its benefits, how it compares to other treatment options, and why Dr. Mingus recommends this approach.
Understanding TMJ Disorders
The temporomandibular joint links your jawbone to your skull. This joint functions like a sliding hinge, and you have one on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders can cause pain in your jaw joint and the muscles controlling jaw movement. The exact cause of an individual’s TMJ disorder can be hard to determine. The pain might be due to a variety of factors, including genetics, arthritis, or a jaw injury.
Common Symptoms of TMJ Disorders
The therapeutic services offered at Dr. Kelley Mingus’s dental practice stem from a deep understanding of the varying symptoms that TMJ disorders can cause. These symptoms include:
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw
- Aching pain in and around your ear
- Difficulty or discomfort while chewing
- Aching facial pain
- Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
One essential thing to note is that TMJ pain can also result from sleep apnea or teeth grinding at night, and inexperienced or underqualified practitioners often overlook these connections.
What is Holistic TMJ Treatment?
Holistic TMJ treatment is a comprehensive approach to treating TMJ disorders that considers the patient’s overall health and lifestyle. Treatments are non-invasive and drug-free whenever possible, addressing the root causes rather than simply soothing symptoms. For example, a holistic dentist may recommend changes in diet, exercise, or stress management techniques, alongside more traditional treatments like oral appliances, to resolve your TMJ disorder.
Why Choose Holistic TMJ Treatment?
Choosing holistic TMJ treatment offers a range of benefits. It is a different, perhaps more effective, way to think about addressing your discomfort than other more traditional methods.
Focus on the Root Cause, Not Just the Symptoms
What sets holistic TMJ treatment apart is its determination to uncover and treat the underlying causes of your TMJ pain rather than merely addressing the symptoms. This comprehensive approach may benefit patients who previously found only temporary relief from other treatments.
Non-Invasive and Drug-free Solutions
Wherever possible, holistic TMJ treatments are non-invasive and drug-free. Techniques such as meditation, stress management, and dietary changes can greatly improve TMJ-related symptoms by reducing inflammation and muscle tension, leading to long-term relief.
Attention to Related Health Issues
Holistic treatment also considers how TMJ disorders might relate to other health problems. For example, there’s been a growing understanding in recent years of the connection between TMJ disorders, sleep apnea, and teeth grinding or clenching at night (bruxism).
Personalized Treatment Plans
Holistic treatment plans are tailored to the individual. This consideration allows you to obtain a TMJ treatment plan that aligns best with your lifestyle and needs.
Insights from Dr. Kelley Mingus on Holistic TMJ Treatment
Dr. Kelley Mingus is a firm believer in the benefits of the holistic approach to treating TMJ disorders. His practice in Bend, Oregon, provides personalized, comprehensive evaluations for TMJ disorders, which may include digital imaging, jaw tracking, and muscle examination.
As part of his dedication to holistic dentistry, Dr. Mingus also stresses the importance of patient education. Patients should understand their symptoms, treatment options, and how lifestyle changes can positively impact their outcome.
By pairing his expertise in neuromuscular dentistry with a holistic mindset, Dr. Mingus provides his patients with the highest standard of TMJ treatment. His experiences helping patients like Janet, a 63-year-old woman who experienced great improvement in her sleep and overall health after her TMJ treatment, are just one example of how effective and life-changing this holistic approach can be.
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