TMD/TMJ & Snoring in Kearney, NE

Have you been experiencing jaw pain, severe headaches, and prolonged snoring? These are common symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. Temporomandibular disorders, abbreviated TMD, are disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ is a crucial hinge that connects your jaw to your skull, allowing you to open and close your mouth when chewing, speaking, and yawning.

Chronic bruxism (teeth grinding), arthritis, traumatic injury, and connective tissue diseases can compromise the health of the TMJ, resulting in significant pain and discomfort.

Platte Valley Dental is a leading dental clinic that provides patient-tailored treatment for temporomandibular disorders and snoring in Kearney, NE.

TMD Symptoms

The best way to determine if you have TMD is to visit Dr. Eric Ahrens for an evaluation and clinical diagnosis. During your visit, our dentist in Kearney, NE, keeps an eye out for common TMD symptoms, which include:

• Popping sound when you close or open your mouth
• Pain and tender jaw
• Ear pain
• Difficulty or pain when chewing
• Locked jaw
• Facial pain that radiates
• Snoring. TMJ issues can cause your jaw to be out of alignment, leading to increased nighttime snoring.

It’s worth noting that snoring isn’t always indicative of temporomandibular disorders. In some cases, snoring may result from sleep apnea. At the same time, snoring can be a short-term problem unrelated to anything else. Visiting our dentist near you helps to rule out underlying issues.

TMD Treatments

At Platte Valley Dental Clinic, we personalize our TMD treatments to correspond to the severity of the condition and other patient-specific needs.

Dr. Ahrens may recommend any of the following interventions to eliminate pain and restore the function of the temporomandibular joint:

• Nightguards to prevent teeth grinding.
• Pain medication.
• Muscle relaxants.
• Physical therapy.
• Corticosteroid injections.
• Lifestyle and home remedies, e.g., opting for softer foods, stretching exercises for the jaw muscles, and heat and cold packs.

Where the above interventions fail to provide relief, our dentist in Kearney, NE, may recommend surgery as a last resort. Surgical treatment is usually reserved for severe cases of TMJ dysfunction.

Are you experiencing jaw pain or excessive snoring? Both conditions may indicate more significant underlying issues. To receive the answers and treatment you need, please call Platte Valley Dental Clinic to book an appointment with Dr. Ahrens.