TMJ & Occlusal Therapy

TMJ Therapy

Some people suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) without even being aware of it. Clicking and popping in the jaw is not normal and is likely a sign that you are suffering from TMD and may respond well to TMJ Therapy. Possible causes of TMD include:

Arthritis
Dislocation
Injury or Trauma
Stress
Teeth Grinding
Jaw Clenching
Obstructive Sleep Apnea

At Austin Bluffs, we offer consultation and options for treatment. Oftentimes, especially for more minor cases, at-home self-care treatments may eliminate the TMD symptoms. Some self-care treatment options include:

Eating soft foods
Alternating application of hot and cold compresses
Avoiding extreme jaw movements, such as wide yawning, chewing gum, biting your nails, and yelling or singing loudly
Meditation and other relaxation techniques

If symptoms persist, we are capable of delivering a wide variety of treatment options. We will work with you to determine the best for your treatment needs. Some common prescribed treatment methods include:

Medication such as a muscle relaxant
Anti-anxiety or anti-inflammatory medications
A mouth appliance such as a night guard or bite plate to minimize the effects of clenching and grinding your teeth
TMJ splint therapy to help you achieve comfort and stability for your TMJ disorder

Occlusal Therapy

In a healthy bite, pressure is evenly distributed among each tooth. If disproportionate pressure is placed on one specific tooth or set of teeth, this may lead to loosening of those teeth, and ultimately bone loss. TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) can cause the need for occlusal therapy.

Occlusal therapy works to adjust a patient’s bite over time. Ultimately, the therapy works to create an even distribution of those bite forces among each tooth, so that those loosened teeth and ligaments can properly heal. Though nobody has a perfect bite, if yours is causing undue wear and tear on your teeth or hurting your jaw, you may be a good candidate for occlusal therapy. Occlusal therapy may consist of two options:

An occlusal night guard that will help control the pressure distribution throughout your mouth while you sleep
Splinting, which is the tying together of adjacent teeth, for more severe cases where bone loss and loosening has already taken place

There are many options available and the staff at Austin Bluffs Dental is happy to work with you to determine the best course of action. If you have a question about your specific condition, give us a call at 719.593.8488 and schedule a consultation.

Dental visits should be fun! At Austin Bluffs Dental, we promise to make you smile while we care for your grin!

I’ve been going to Dr. Kearney for 33 years now and never had something I needed special work on until this month when I broke off a piece of my tooth on a popcorn kernel. I was able to get an appointment that same day and waited only a few minutes before the dental assistant looked at the tooth, took X-rays, and Dr. Kearney came in a few minutes later and repaired the tooth. I was done in an hour and able to eat later that night with no pain.

Peter Yost, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

Kind, friendly, helpful staff. Good quality service. I recommend.

Christina Castillo, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

I am so happy I have finally found a dental home!!! I love the staff…Dr. Kearney, Leslie, Chris and Barbara thank you for making me feel so incredibly comfortable and welcome. Going to the dentist can be scary but this office is so inviting…plus they play great music. I would definitely recommend to my friends and family!!!

Lindsey Ryan, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

Always a great professional and personable visit! All staff members are awesome and have really great sense of urgency and humors. They get to know you and call you by your first name, that just makes you feel right at home! Family has had the best dental experience in 15 years. Dr. Kearney is amazing, he’s quick and painless. Love his attention to detail, great prices, tips on dental health and his knowledge. Will be there for the for seeable future!

Tony Thomas, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

I was treated with the utmost respect and compassion. I had two extractions and expected to have severe pain but I have been able to go all day without any medication. Dr. Kearney and staff are extremely pleasant to deal with. Dr. Kearney even called me up that evening to check on how I was doing! I have found my new dentist.

Linda Krenrich, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

Dr. Kearney at Austin Bluffs Dental is an excellent dentist. The staff is well established and does an excellent job as well. I am very happy with the work he and his team do. I have been a patient for over 10 years and have had a lot of work done on my teeth, both cosmetic and necessary. All of the work is holding up very well, not a single problem! It is awesome going into their office with such a personable staff. Thanks for your hard work and for giving me the ability to smile confidently!

David Bergstrom, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

Doc K and the team is great – caring, thorough and very attentive to detail. What more could you want! Thanks for not retiring yet and pushing through this pandemic to care for your patients!

Joel Tanaka, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

How often do you go to the dentist and actually have fun? I did today! The entire Austin Bluffs Dental team is very friendly and was caring about my comfort. But their willingness to joke around and have fun certainly made it much easier to walk into that hour-long treatment in the chair. Compared to the somber, no-smile dentists I’ve been to in the past, walking into a friendly, laughing atmosphere is really enjoyable. Of course, I’m not saying Dr. Kearney’s jokes were actually good, (😄), but his work absolutely was! Minimum discomfort, continuous checking on how I was feeling, and an explanation of what will be done on the next visit. I’m actually looking forward to it – never thought I’d ever say that about going to the dentist!!

Glyn Howells, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

My experience with Dr. Kearney was exactly what I was hoping for. For anyone who quakes at the thought of going to the dentist is fear of being in an uncomfortable situation with a rushed feeling, this office setting was relaxing from the moment I walked in. The office staff was friendly and caring, making me feel at ease and like I was important to them even as a new client. The amount time I was given to address my conditions and concerns with Dr. Kearney was more than two previous attempts I had made to be diagnosed. His attention to detail for every issue, attention to detail for exact treatment down to every tooth was exactly what I needed to know even if it was daunting to find out the amount of damage that has occurred. Being given the truth and not fluff on how long, how extensive, and how much the cost would be makes all the difference in the world.

K, Patient at Austin Bluffs Dental

TMJ Therapy

Occlusal Therapy

Dental visits should be fun! At Austin Bluffs Dental, we promise to make you smile while we care for your grin!

We look forward to seeing you!

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