Can Kids Get TMJ Therapy?

February 25, 2022 9:39 pm Published by ChandlerDentalCenter

Try opening and closing your jaw for a second. The joint that allows that movement to happen is called the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short. Whenever there’s an issue with the TMJ, it’s called TMJ disorder or TMD, and it can make it difficult to do everyday activities like chewing and speaking. It can also cause discomfort and pain. The good news is that there are treatment options available to those who experience TMJ disorder. In fact, there’s quite a wide range of treatments depending on how severe the specific case is, ranging from jaw exercises to surgery.

While TMD is more likely to appear in adults than in children, it can develop in kids. You may be wondering, however, if TMJ treatments can still work with patients so young, especially if your own child is experiencing TMJ issues. Here’s what you need to know:

TMJ Treatment Options with Kids

The quick answer is yes: TMJ therapies can indeed be beneficial for kids. The question now is what exactly the therapy will be. Just like with adults, the proper treatment will vary depending on the severity of the disorder in the patient. Some kids might be able to find relief by wearing a bite plate or mouthguard at night. Others may need to get braces or other orthodontic treatment in order to treat a misaligned bite. Most of the time, the issue can be remedied in children without oral surgery.

Contact a Dentist

At the end of the day, the only way you’ll be able to confirm exactly whether your child has TMD and what the next steps are for treatment is to visit a dentist. At Chandler Dental Center in Santonio, we provide TMJ/TMD therapy as part of our specialty dental services. Whether it’s you or your child who’s experiencing TMJ issues, we’d be happy to help in any way possible.

Categorised in: Family Dental Care, TMJ/TMD

This post was written by ChandlerDentalCenter

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