TMJ provided by Osborne Dentistry in Lebanon, OR
 If you are experiencing discomfort in your teeth or gums and are ready to get your oral health back on track, we have a quality dental care team that can get you the best treatment that fits your condition. Come see our professionals at Osborne Dentistry for a dental exam to identify the cause of your discomfort.A dental exam is the first step on your journey to a brighter and healthier smile. Once you have completed your exam, our team will work with you to develop a custom treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. This will include follow-up exams and any necessary steps to improve the function and appearance of your smile. What Happens During a Dental Exam?A dental exam is a simple and non-invasive oral health procedure. During your exam, our professionals will carefully inspect every area of your oral cavity, including your gums and other soft tissue. Your exam will be accompanied by a professional teeth cleaning. One of our team members will brush and floss your teeth, as well as check for symptoms of chronic conditions such as gum disease. We check for gum disease by measuring the depth of the naturally occurring pockets that exist between your teeth and gums. Once this is completed, we will also conduct an oral cancer screening to check for any abnormalities. If this is your first exam with us, you will likely get X-rays as well. These images allow our professionals to better understand your oral health needs and get a complete view of your oral cavity. X-rays are updated as needed. How Often Do I Need a Dental Exam?According to the American Dental Association, you should receive an oral exam and cleaning every six months. Exams conducted in these intervals allows our team to monitor your oral health and provide feedback on your oral hygiene practices. Regular exams are also important because they allow our team to diagnose and treat any oral health conditions much earlier. If left untreated, conditions like decay can become substantially more serious and require multiple procedures to correct. What If a Cavity Is Found?If our team locates a cavity during your dental exam, we will let you know during your visit and discuss treatment options with you. The treatment that our team recommends will vary based on how severe the decay is. Minor cavities can often be treated during the very same visit through the use of a dental filling. When placing a filling, we will administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during the procedure. We will then drill out any decayed material from your tooth. A composite material is used to pack the hole and protect your tooth from further decay. This material will harden after our team finishes molding and shaping it. Schedule an AppointmentThere is no need to wait until you are experiencing dental health issues to see a dental professional. Preventative treatment such as receiving regular dental exams is the key to a lifetime of good oral health. If you are ready to schedule your exam with our professionals at Osborne Dentistry, then you can contact us at 541-451-4300 today. |
TMJ Lebanon, OR If you are grinding your teeth at night, you are probably also experiencing soreness and pain in your jaw as well as snoring while you sleep. Our team can help provide a treatment solution to help you get back to the quality sleep you need each night. With these symptoms, you may be suffering from a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD). These disorders are generally linked to persistent jaw pain and discomfort. Fortunately, our professionals at Osborne Dentistry are trained to treat this frustrating and often painful disorder. To do so, our staff offers a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatment methods to provide you with short and long-term relief.What Is TMD?TMD or temporomandibular disorder refers to any disorder that affects this hinge-like joint between your upper and lower jaw. This joint is vital to both speaking and eating, which explains why these disorders can be so debilitating to our patients. TMD is characterized by pain in not only the joint itself but also discomfort in the associated muscles that are responsible for controlling this joint. While the exact cause of a person's TMD is hard to determine, it is usually linked to one of several factors. Genetics plays a key role in whether or not a person will experience a TMJ disorder in their lifetime. If you have a family history of these conditions, there is an increased likelihood that you will also experience it. Another possible cause of TMD is arthritis. As with other joints, arthritis of your TMJ can manifest as jaw pain and tightness. TMD can also be a result of a traumatic injury to your face that damages this joint. Will I Need Surgery?In some cases, surgery is necessary to correct severe TMJ disorders. However, our professionals always attempt to use non-invasive treatments whenever it is practical. This often starts by providing you with prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medication such as high-dose ibuprofen. Muscle relaxers like cyclobenzaprine may also be used in order to provide you with temporary and rapid relief of pain. If it is determined that your TMD is linked to bruxism or teeth grinding, we may recommend a nighttime mouthguard. These mouthguards are worn during your sleep and look similar to a sports mouthguard. They work by protecting your teeth from damage and also by repositioning your TMJ, which can provide you with relief. What Are My Treatment Options?If medicinal and non-invasive treatments are not successful, our professionals will likely recommend escalating to a surgical treatment option. Botox injections may also be suggested as the last step before scheduling a surgical procedure. If this also fails, then our team can implement one of several different treatments. Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is completed through a very small incision and is very successful for many patients. The most drastic of the surgical options is open-jaw surgery. Regardless of the severity of your TMD disorder, our professionals at Osborne Dentistry can develop a treatment plan to meet your needs. If you are tired of dealing with persistent TMJ pain and are ready to schedule your appointment, you can do so by calling our office at 541-451-4300. |