Oral Medicine


 

Oral Medicine is the discipline of dentistry concerned with the management of oral facial pain, diagnosis and treatment of oral lesions, and the treatment of medically complex patients. Typically diseases treated by oral medicine are not treated with surgery, but medication or therapies instead.

Conditions treated include but are not limited to:woman experiencing oral pain Myers Denta

• TMD/TMJ
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Atypical facial pain
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Dry mouth
• Aphthous ulcers
• Candidiasis
• Lichen Planus
• Pemphigus/pemphigoid
• Erythema Multiforme

 

 

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

The TMJ is the hinge that connects the temporal bones of your skull to your jaw. The joint is able to move up and down and (to a lesser extent) from side to side. There are a lot of things that can cause temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) but the most frequent causes are: grinding teeth, jaw clenching, arthritis, and head injury. The most common symptom of TMD is pain or discomfort of the jaw. Tenderness in the face and problems with clicking or popping can occur with TMD.

TMD is a treatable condition that we can manage in a variety of ways. If your dentist finds that you have TMD our treatment approach is to take the most conservative steps first and see if that fixes the issue. Often TMD can be treated simply. The first step we suggest in at-home treatment of TMD is the application of a hot or cold compress for ten minutes at a time to the jaw. We can also show you some stretches that you can do to relieve some of the discomfort associated with the condition.

If you grind your teeth at night we will prescribe a custom-crafted mouth guard to be worn at night. These mouth guards can prevent not only TMD, but also erosion of tooth enamel due to grinding.

It is important that if you believe you are suffering from TMD you make an appointment to see us today.

Atypical Facial Pain (AFP)

AFP is a kind of chronic facial pain that is not easily categorized. AFP can manifest itself as constant or persistent pain of the face, which can last from hours to days at a time. It can be difficult to determine the cause of AFP but if you experience persistent facial pain we highly recommend you come in to be examined immediately.

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS)

BMS is a condition characterized by a persistent burning sensation of the fleshy parts of the mouth, most typically the tongue, gums, and cheeks. Often the cause of BMS is difficult to pin down and frequently hard to treat.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva. The result is often uncomfortably dry mouth. Often the symptoms of dry mouth include chapped lips, rough feeling tongue, and bad breath. Many medications side-effects include dry mouth so it is not a rare condition. Fortunately, there are a number of remedies for dry mouth. We have a variety of treatment options available and will work with you to find the right fit for your condition and lifestyle.

If you are suffering from pain in your mouth or pain stemming from your jaw please call us at (512) 506-9889 today to setup an examination.

Location

Myers Dental
8430 Spicewood Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78759
Phone: 512-506-9430

Office Hours

Get in touch

512-506-9430