+ 1 415-499-1717
appointments@evosmile.com
750 Las Gallinas Ave, Suite 210
San Rafael, CA 94903
Open Monday - Thursday
Closed Friday - Sunday
TMJ Treatment
DR. IGOR OCHEV, SAN RAFAEL DENTIST
“Why does my jaw hurt so much?”
When you open and close your mouth, you’re using the temporomandibular joints, called TMJ for short. Imagine an orchestra of joints, discs, muscles, ligaments, and jaw bones playing harmoniously together so you can chew, speak, and swallow. Any problem that disrupts this orderly system may result in pain.
Sounds such as clicking, popping and grating without pain are common and considered normal. It’s important to rule out if your pain symptoms are related to a TMJ disorder or something else. Many TMJ disorders go away on their own but in some cases, they can become chronic.
If you’re concerned about what’s going on, please come in to see Dr. Igor Ochev. He’ll ask you what you’re experiencing, examine you, and if you do have a TMJ disorder, recommend the most suitable treatment plan for you.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dr. Ochev has been serving Marin for more than 20 years. He’s honored to be the San Rafael dentist with the most 5-star reviews on Yelp.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorders
Feeling jaw and/or chewing pain
Jaw pain spreading to your face or neck
Feeling stiffness in your jaw
Limited movement or locking of your jaw
Feeling painful clicking, popping, or grating when opening or closing your mouth
Experiencing ringing in your ears, hearing loss, or dizziness
Getting headaches with your jaw pain
Noticing a change in how your teeth fit together
TREATING TMJ DISORDERS
You & Us, Together
Treatment for TMJ involves a true partnership between you and us, as we ask you take an active role in alleviating your symptoms.
Dr. Ochev’s conservative approach focuses on long-term tooth and gum health. For TMJ disorders, he recommends a “less is best” non-surgical treatment plan.
We start with simple TMJ treatments before moving onto more involved ones. They include modifying certain behaviors, doing gentle exercises, and managing pain.
TMJ treatment is not a “one size fits all” solution. You can be certain that Dr. Ochev will provide a specific therapy plan for you.
Do you want to learn more about TMJ disorders? We think this quick summary from the American Dental Association might be useful.
Our Other Restorative Dental Services
Fillings
You might need one to treat a cavity, repair a cracked or broken tooth, or rebuild worn enamel.
Find Out MoreInlays & Onlays
You might need one to treat a larger cavity, or damage to the biting surface or the cusps.
Find Out MoreCrowns (Caps)
You might need one for a severely damaged tooth, very large cavity, or after a root canal.
Find Out MoreBridges
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by bridging the gap between the adjacent ones.
Find Out MorePartial and Full Dentures
Custom-made and removable, dentures replace some or all of your teeth in an arch.
Find Out MoreImplant Restorations
A crown, bridge, or denture that securely attaches to an implant post in the jawbone.
Find Out MorePatient Savings & Financial Options
At EvoSmile, dental care is empathy care.
Your oral health profoundly affects your overall health. For this reason, we would never want you to hold off on your dental care because of cost — whether or not you carry insurance. This is why we offer the following solutions to ease your worry and your pocketbook.
New Patient Offer
Get a comprehensive dental exam including necessary X-rays, an oral cancer screening, a periodontal exam, a TMJ evaluation, and a regular cleaning.
Learn About This & Your First VisitNo Insurance? Save with Us
If you don’t have insurance, you'll want to take a look at our very own savings plans. We designed them with your dental needs in mind.
Discover our Dental Savings PlansFinancing & Payment Options
If you’re interested in affordable financing and monthly payments, we offer options from CareCredit and Cherry.
Find out if you pre-qualifyInsurance Benefits
We’re an out-of-network dental office that accepts insured patients with PPO plans. Get answers to commonly asked questions.
Check out our Insurance FAQs