TMJ Treatment in Nashville, TN - Center for Advanced Dentistry

Some people live with temporomandibular (jaw) joint pain throughout their lives and fail to realize the cause of their discomfort. Many of the people who come to the Center for Advanced Dentistry in Nashville have already seen other doctors or dentists about their TMJ/TMD problems but have not found relief. Some have seen many doctors and may be undergoing multiple treatments to try to control their symptoms.

If you are in Nashville and need a dentist who treats TMJ/TMD issues with help from reliable neuromuscular diagnostics, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry online or call us directly at (615) 383-6787 to book an appointment with Dr. Forbes.

TMJ Treatment: Two Key Questions

If the teeth, facial muscles, and jaw joints are not in harmonious balance, people develop painful complications. These are known as temporomandibular disorders, and can cause severe head, neck, and back pain. Our neuromuscular approach to dentistry seeks to restore oral harmony and put an end to TMJ pain. When you think you might be ready to explore our unique treatments, ask yourself these two questions:

Question No. 1: Do you have regular face, head, or neck pain, discomfort, spasms or fatigue?

Question No. 2: Are you considering restorative or aesthetic/cosmetic dentistry?

Some TMJ problems develop during infancy. Others develop during childhood when tooth formation and jaw alignment are still happening. Still, other TMJ problems may develop as a result of physical trauma or because teeth wear down over time.

Unfortunately, TMJ problems also can surface after previous restorative or aesthetic procedures were completed without determining the jaw’s proper posture. Denture patients often develop TMJ because their dentures are not accurately replacing their lost teeth.

TMJ Symptoms

What exactly is TMJ? Determining the root cause of a person’s pain can be like solving a puzzle. Here are some of the symptoms we look for to determine whether a patient might be suffering from TMJ/TMD:

Headaches
Sensitive or sore teeth
Facial pain
Neck and shoulder aches
Jaw joint clicking or popping
Ear congestion
Worn down teeth/grinding
Clenching/bruxism
Limited opening of the mouth
Neck problems
Loose teeth
Tingling in the fingertips
Forward head posturing
Mouth breathing
Tongue thrusts
Open bites
Family History or Genetics

Many people who have TMJ may also develop airway problems, which might include snoring or sleep apnea.

We utilize the latest technology so you get a scientific diagnosis of your TMJ. Our diagnostic equipment includes the BioPak diagnostic suite and T-Scan. BioPak allows us to measure many aspects of your jaw health, such as muscle activity, jaw motion, and jaw sounds. T-Scan is a digital bite measurement that shows how much force your individual teeth experience so we can identify any imbalances. Together these tools give us a complete picture of your bite health, from the cusps of your teeth to the cartilage in your joints.

TMJ Treatment

Although a complete smile makeover is one solution, our Nashville dentist always opts for a conservative treatment strategy whenever possible. Our Nashville dentist might choose to fit a patient with a custom orthotic appliance designed to correct teeth and jaw posture. By holding your jaw in a better resting position, the orthotic helps your muscles relax, reduces pressure on your jaw joints, nerves, and other structures. This can reduce or eliminate TMJ symptoms over time. You might begin by wearing your orthotic all day, then switch to wearing it only at night.

If you like the results of the orthotic, but don’t like wearing the orthotic, we can talk about using restorations to establish a permanently healthy bite.

If you are in Nashville and need a dentist who treats TMJ disorders with help from reliable neuromuscular diagnostics, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry at (615) 383-6787 to book an appointment with Dr. Forbes.

Testimonials

The new owner of Center For Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Mckinnon Forbes has done several procedures on me when was practicing in North Carolina and I... read more

Beverly A.

I had an amazing first experience at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. I felt prioritized, taken care of, and respected as a customer. For most... read more

Noah W.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience... read more

Sammie U.

They deserve a 10 out of 10 from this patient!!! AHH-MAZING! We had a life changing experience for our household. When you have dental anxiety and... read more

Richelle T.

So happy to have found a dentist that feels like home :) I was looking for a holistically minded practice, and CFAD checked all the boxes. our... read more

Jamie C.

Dr. Forbes is THE BEST!!! Not only is he an expert in his field, he is personable, kind, and his staff made me comfortable at every turn. I gladly... read more

Rachel S.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had... read more

Tamara B.

Sammie U.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience was quite horrible. I had already developed some dental anxiety prior to this, but this particular visit sent it through the roof. I knew I needed a new dentist and I wanted to find a holistic one who would align with my values and refer out to other practices as little as possible. I found Dr. Forbes at Center for Advanced Dentistry and scheduled a consult knowing I would eventually need an implant to replace my missing tooth. Crissy, their patient coordinator, spent almost three hours with me that first day! She was incredibly kind, great at helping educate me about the root causes of the issues going on in my mouth, patient answering all my questions, and so encouraging when I shared with her how much I struggled with anxiety when getting dental work done. Her passion for helping others in this field radiates through her and quickly helps build an immediate trust. We discussed several different options to best fit my timeline, budget, fears/anxiety, etc. I chose to have two additional teeth extracted (both were root canals that I had wanted out for years) and have implants placed in the, what would be three missing areas. At first, I had decided I wanted to be fully put under with anesthesia because I was so nervous about the procedure. But as we got closer, I started to wonder if I could do it without since it was so expensive, and overall not the healthiest option either. Dr. Forbes and Crissy encouraged me that I could do the procedure with alternative calming methods that they offer and that if at any point I felt like I couldn’t handle it, we could stop. Y’all, I don’t have the words to express the gratitude toward Dr. Forbes and the whole CAD office on surgery day. From their patience in waiting for me to be ready for them to start, to holding my hand and wiping away my tears. From Dr. Forbes communicating with me throughout the whole process, to pushing through seven hours with me in the chair to wrap up what I believe to be the best work anyone could have performed. I’m not even three days post-op and I can’t believe how little pain I’ve felt. I will never trust another dentist like I do Dr. Forbes and I can honestly say I’m less fearful now for future procedures. I look forward to the future dental work and corrections I’ve needed for such a long time! I never thought that would be possible. Thank you, Center for Advanced Dentistry!

Tamara B.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had seen multiple friends post about them and from the look of their website and social media they looked like they aligned well with my holistic approach to health in general. Backstory: I have had a handful of dental emergencies as an adult, that always led to tooth removal. They were at traditional dentist offices that seemed to want the quick fix to everything. I believe my teeth probably could have been saved if I had known more about preventative oral health and the holistic mindset around teeth in general back then. Most dentists (at least the many that I have seen) do not educate you on full body functional health. They focus on service level in my opinion. I needed more than this. I was tired of not understanding. So I learned more about holistic options. I have a lot of anxiety seeing dentists because every visit for over a decade was always bad news. I need my bite corrected, a few implants, and some small fires to be put out. I don't need a celebrity smile like other doctors have pushed, and I very much like my smile how it is. What I need is better function of my overall health. I didn't want braces at 33 and the suggested gameplan from another doctor was many years of work. Going into CFAD today, I felt this huge weight and confusion over me. I was nervous and defeated, but I walked out empowered and confident! My consultation was more like having coffee with a friend. Crissy immediately helped my nerves dissipate with her personality and gentle demeanor. We talked for hours. The wealth of knowledge that was poured into me was exactly what I was searching for. She was very likeminded about health in general and made me feel safe to ask questions. She eased into the plan for my mouth and I never felt like she was rushing or waiting to move on to the next topic. I could have talked to her all day. She really made me completely comfortable before I even saw Dr. Forbes. So by the time he came in, I had zero anxiety. That alone is a miracle in itself, because it's never happened before. The plan for my mouth is different than I expected, but I am so excited for their expertise to be a success story for me. I actually understand the plan and why. Another first! I don't need to get braces, and it actually won't take much time at all to bring functionality back into my mouth. If you are on the fence about big dental work, I highly suggest meeting with Center for Advanced Dentistry for a consultation. I can't wait to start improving and healing my mouth with this amazing team.

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