Welcome to the TMJ & Facial Pain Treatment Center.
If you are with us here at our page, chances are you or someone you know has been contending with symptoms such as jaw pain, facial pain or earaches. Other afflictions might be popping or clicking in the jaw joints, neck pain and limited mouth opening.
Such symptoms may involve the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint connects your lower jaw (mandible) to the bone at the side of your head (temporal bone). The joint’s flexibility allows your mouth to move smoothly up and down and side to side for daily functions such as talking, chewing and yawning.
Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control its movement and position. The joint’s dual hinge and sliding motions make it among the body’s most complicated.
Pain near and around the joint doesn’t right away signal a problem. This discomfort can often be occasional and temporary, occurring in cycles, and the pain might fade with little or no treatment. Some people, however, develop significant, long-term symptoms
When the TMJ and its related muscles do not work in concert for a lengthening period, a person might have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). While TMJD can cause discomfort and even concern, accurate diagnosis is possible, and early detection can help prevent more-severe conditions that might develop.
Schaumburg (IL): Sources of TMJ Symptoms
Sources of TMJ pain can widely vary, but many tend to be common. TMJD can result from what we refer to as macro trauma and micro trauma.
Macro trauma can include an injury to the head, face or jaw and result in TMJD either right away or years later. Just one example of macro trauma can be lingering effects from intense whiplash from an accident.
Micro trauma can involve bruxism (grinding) or clenching of teeth as the main cause of TMJD or a secondary cause related to another problem such as obstructive sleep apnea.
Problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are increasing in the U.S. According to some estimates, from 20%–40% of Americans are believed to suffer from related symptoms we’ve mentioned.
Testing & Diagnosis for Schaumburg (IL) Patients
The TMJ & Facial Pain Treatment Center diagnoses and treats TMJD and facial pain for Schaumburg residents. We use a symptom-based diagnostic approach that consists of a detailed and extensive differential process enabling successful treatment. This approach ensures we both resolve your symptoms and determine their original source.
Many of our Schaumburg TMJ patients are referred by a dentist, physician or specialist. We also support those who either self-diagnose a TMJ problem or seek a definitive diagnosis after visiting other healthcare professionals.
To define the sources of TMJ-related discomfort, we use joint-specific examination and testing, including MRI imaging. This also helps eliminate other possibilities that could be masking themselves as the sources of pain.
Further diagnostic testing includes extensive muscle examination of the head and neck, orthopedic load testing of the joint and Doppler ultrasound.
You will leave your initial appointment with us knowing your concerns have been carefully addressed and assessed. We provide a 99% success rate in alleviating TMJ pain discomfort through the right combination of treatments for each patient.
Depending on your optimal personal plan, TMJ treatment might include splint therapy, posture training and balancing of the teeth’s biting surfaces, to name but a few. Most TMJ treatment for our Schaumburg patients doesn’t require any surgery (< 1% of all cases).
If we determine that relief from TMJ pain will benefit from further specialization, we will team with other multidisciplinary physicians for differential diagnoses. Our network includes radiologists; ear, nose and throat physicians; neurologists; and physical therapists.
Proficiency Matters for Schaumburg (IL) TMJD Treatment
TMJD is a highly particular healthcare concern. Advanced training is required to accurately diagnose and treat TMJD.
Most dentists and physicians receive little if any training in this field. Inexperience or partial knowledge can cause a delay in TMJ pain diagnosis and treatment.
As a licensed hospital staff dentist with more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Grabavoy has ordered and interpreted thousands of MRIs to diagnose disease processes such as:
- parotid gland cancer
- temporal bone cancer
- retrodiscal edema
- cervical disc problems
- disc displacement
- ischemic necrosis
- sinus polyps and cysts
- joint effusions
Dr. Grabavoy also remains current with continuing education. He has given public presentations on TMJ and facial pain as well.
Your “TMJ Specialist Near Me” for Schaumburg (IL)
If you have TMJ symptoms, you don’t have to just keep living with them and letting them interfere with your attention and comfort. The TMJ & Facial Pain Treatment Center can diagnose and treat your symptoms in helping you restore a strong, healthy and comfortable jaw. Contact us at (630) 734-0909 today to speak with a TMJ specialist!
TMJD Quick Facts
Here are some common home remedies for TMJ-related discomfort:
- For acute pain, apply an ice pack to the side of your face and temple area for about 10 minutes. If approved by your physician or dentist, do a few jaw stretches. For chronic pain, hold a warm towel or washcloth to the side of your face for about five minutes. Do this a few times each day.
- Eat more soft foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, soup, scrambled eggs, fish, beans and grains. Also cut foods into small pieces so you chew less.
- Avoid extreme jaw movements. Keep yawning and chewing (especially gum or ice) to a minimum and don’t yell, sing or do anything that forces you to open wide.
- Keep your teeth slightly apart as often as you can. This will relieve pressure on your jaw.