Man holding jaw in pain

TMJ Treatment

Is jaw pain causing you to suffer chronic headaches, avoid hard foods, and is overall interfering with your daily life?

These uncomfortable symptoms may be due to a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

Dr. Art Carpenter has helped Kenilworth, IL, patients find relief from painful temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms since 1998.

Man indicating TMJ

What Is a TMJ Disorder?

Temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are ball-and-socket joints that help your jaw open and close. 

Your TMJs can become strained through trauma, clenching and grinding your teeth, and other stressors. When the jaw muscles and ligaments become swollen around the TMJs and the cushioning inside the TMJs wears down, pain and temporomandibular disorders can develop.

Symptoms of a Temporomandibular Disorder

A TMD can cause symptoms that extend past the jaw joint. If you have any of the following symptoms, they may be relieved through TMJ treatment.

  • Headaches or migraines
  • Eye pain
  • Ear pain or tinnitus
  • Jaw pain
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Toothaches or tooth damage
  • Clicking noises when opening and closing the mouth
  • Trouble opening the mouth wide
  • Difficulty chewing food
  • Swelling on one side of the face

Ready to Find Relief? Request a Consultation

If you are experiencing TMJ disorder symptoms, Dr. Carpenter can work with you to diagnose your exact cause and provide treatment. 

Dr. Carpenter strives to both relieve discomfort and provide preventative dental care techniques for his TMJ patients to help them sustain strong and healthy teeth for a lifetime. Addressing jaw pain can help you tackle your symptoms head-on before they cause more costly and extensive dental damage.

Call to request a temporomandibular joint consultation at our Kenilworth, IL, office:

(847) 251-5004

Dr. Carpenter
Dr. Carpenter regularly takes continuing education classes to offer the best treatments to his Kenilworth patients.

"Dr. Carpenter is the best!" 5-Star Reviews From Kenilworth, IL, Patients

1

Rich A

2020

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Staff is amazing. Everyone is friendly. Dr. Carpenter is the best!

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1

J Rad

2018

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The best place for your teeth on the North Shore!!

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What Causes a TMD?

The exact cause of TMD is unknown, but many potential reasons for the uncomfortable symptoms exist.

Injuries

Injuries to the joint, jaw, or head and neck muscles can lead to disorders of the temporomandibular joint. 

Arthritis

Arthritis in the joint can also cause pain, as can irregular movement of the disk that cushions the ball and socket of the joint. 

Bruxism

TMJ disorder patients who grind or clench their teeth at night put pressure on the TMJs and surrounding muscles, which may cause or exacerbate the condition.

Misaligned Bite

Patients who have not received restorative work for damaged teeth can suffer from a misaligned bite that leads to TMD.

Our Featured Treatment
A Non-Invasive Solution

Many TMJ patients find significant relief from symptoms with appliance therapy. Our office offers the custom-fit NTI-tss Plus™ dental appliance, which has helped alleviate TMD symptoms for many of our patients. Created to fit snugly to the contours of your teeth, the NTI-tss Plus suppresses muscle contraction and prevents teeth grinding.
Oral appliance
The night guard acts as a splint for your jaw. Made of a specialized material that is clear and odor-resistant, this night guard reduces joint strain, minimizes the load on the disk, and decreases facial muscle tension. Like a splint, the night guard securely holds your jaw in place during sleep.

Other Treatment Options

The NTI-tss Plus dental appliance is ideal for patients with bruxism. If improper bite alignment is indicated, we may recommend bite corrections or minor adjustments to the teeth to create a more harmonious jaw position.  

Minor Orthodontics

For patients with TMD caused by a misaligned bite, our dentist offers the Inman Aligner™ appliance. This minor orthodontics treatment is removable, discreet, affordable, and works in a short time frame. 

Learn More About the Inman Aligner

Adjusting Tooth Shape

Crooked, jagged, or damaged teeth can affect your bite and flare up a TMD. The dentist may recommend adjusting your teeth with dental bonding. Dental bonding can help adjust the size of your teeth to fix any cracks or dental trauma affecting your teeth' alignment.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Placing a Restoration

If missing teeth are causing your TMD to flare up, the dentist can place a traditional or implant-supported crown, bridge, or denture to fill in the gaps in your smile and align your bite. Dr. Carpenter has completed 500 hours of implant education to ensure his TMJ patients receive the best care possible. 

Learn More About Dental Implants

Process of Temporomandibular Joint Treatment

Researchers have estimated that over 10 million Americans have a TMD.
Researchers have estimated that over 10 million Americans have a TMD.

Consultation

At your initial consultation, your doctor will take digital X-rays, observe your bite, and manually check for signs of issues in the joint.

Treatment 

Once Dr. Carpenter has determined if you have a TMD and what the cause may be, you will receive a treatment recommendation, which may include appliance therapy or occlusal adjustment.

Follow-up Appointments

Follow-up appointments at our Kenilworth, IL, office may be recommended so Dr. Carpenter can monitor your treatment. 

"Always a pleasant experience." More 5-Star Reviews From Kenilworth, IL, Patients

1

Michael Puffer

2020

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10+ years and counting, won’t drive anywhere else. Always a pleasant experience.

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Lizbeth Silva

2021

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Best dentist ever!!! Would come here any day for checkups and wash

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Art Carpenter, DDS, LTD

Dr. Carpenter has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and is proud to offer various state-of-the-art services for his patients, including: 

  • Dental implants 
  • Fully guided implant surgery
  • Inman Aligner™ 

He regularly participates in continuing education programs to ensure that his patients are receiving the very best care. To schedule a consultation at our office, request an appointment online or call us at (847) 251-5004.

Send Us a Message Today

"We have been coming to Dr. Carpenter for several years now after seeing dentists that lacked good patient relationships. Dr. Carpenter is patient with those who fear going to the dentist (that's me), explains what needs to be done and provides different options for treatment. Worth the trek from the city!"

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