• 24600 Millstream Drive, Suite 470 Aldie, VA 20105
  • TMJ & Neuromuscular

    TMJ & Neuromuscular

    TMJ dentistry may be what you need to relieve you from those headaches and pain in your jaw, neck or shoulders.

    If you experience pain in your head, neck, or shoulders, the source of the problem may be in your jaw. If you suffer from frequent headaches, pain in your neck, shoulders, or jaw, a clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw, often these symptoms are tied to temporomandibular joint syndrome or disorder, referred to as TMD or TMJ. This is caused by misalignment of the joint in the lower jaw. TMJ or Neuromuscular dentistry, performed in our Aldie TMJ dentist office, can alleviate many of these symptoms.

    The temporomandibular joint is what connects your lower jaw to your skull, and allows you to open and close your mouth so you can talk and eat. In some people, this joint can become misaligned due to injury, degeneration, arthritis, muscle problems, disease, bad dentistry, or clenching your teeth. This causes all the various tissues in your jaw to move out of place and rub together, which eventually causes symptoms such as: headaches, pain in the jaw, neck or shoulders, toothaches, popping when you open and close your mouth, teeth grinding, earaches, tinnitus, pain or tiredness in the face, difficulty chewing and inability to open the mouth wide.

    “I honestly had no idea that my TMJ symptoms were being caused by teeth grinding until I met with Dr. Kanumilli. She was fantastic! Thanks to her help, we were able to stop my nightly teeth grinding and alleviate my TMJ pain. She’s the best!”

    – Kendall, Watson, VA

    Kendall’s problems with her temporomandibular joint (TMJ) happened gradually. First, she began experiencing tension headaches. Then, her jaw muscles began feeling sore. “The tension felt like it was just radiating down my neck. It was terrible.”

    After being seen by a physician who wasn’t sure what the issue was, Kendall was talking about the issue with a friend who suggested she follow up with a dentist. Kendall made an appointment with Aldie to see if we could help.

    Dr. Kanumilli was able to conduct a simple exam and determine that Kendall suffered from bruxism, or teeth grinding, which was placing stress on her TMJ. Once Dr. Kanumilli was able to resolve Kendall’s bruxism with a nightly mouthguard, her TMJ pain naturally improved.

    “After years of feeling bad, I’m so happy to say that today I am doing great—and it’s all thanks to Dr. Kanumilli!”

    When you see Dr. Kanumilli for TMJ, she will examine your temporomandibular joints and muscle function, measure your muscle activity and jaw movements, and examine your bite. As an Aldie TMJ dentist, she will then be able to figure out the optimal position for your jaw, and will work with you to correct it. Depending on the cause of the misalignment, treatment may include an orthotic, orthodontics, a bite guard to control grinding, dentistry to correct problems with your bite (malocclusion), or relaxation techniques. Most patients who visit Dr. Kanumilli, as a dental TMJ specialist, often feel better after treatment. Many experience complete relief from their symptoms, and return to a normal, pain-free life.

    We look forward to serving you, so for any questions on TMJ dentistry or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office, and a member of our team will be glad to help you.

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