When it comes to chronic facial pain, such as headaches, earaches, or jaw aches, it is worth knowing that millions of American adults suffer from one or more of these afflictions.
As for the source of those aches and pains, we have found that they correlate with the TM joints (temporomandibular joints). These joints, located on each side of the head, work together to allow the jaw to move in various ways for speaking, chewing, and other functions.
Our son, Jimmy Henderson , has been having all of his dental care done by Dr. Michael Hoffmann and his team at the Dental Anesthesia Center for the past 15 years. He goes there once a year and they put him to sleep, clean his teeth, take x-rays and fix anything that needs to be repaired. They are such a blessing for us and our son. He couldn’t tolerate a regular dentist. We heartily recommend them for your dental care. Terry & Debbie Henderson
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. We are truly grateful for your trust and support over the years. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care in a safe and comfortable environment. Your recommendation means the world to us!
Outstanding customer car for our 15 yrs old Autistic Granddaughter. Rebekah really helped put our minds and ease and helped us plan the next visit when it came to reservations we had on the cost of this treatment, and future ones. This is expensive, but worth it knowing they help special needs kids, teens and adults. Sedation dentistry team handle everything great! Thank you Dr. Thoms and the team!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re so glad our team could provide a supportive and reassuring experience while helping you plan for future care. It means a great deal to know you felt informed and cared for every step of the way. We truly appreciate your kind words and the trust you’ve placed in us.
Dr Thoms specializes in dental anesthesia for patients with Special Needs. My daughter has been a patient of his for many years. His experience, depth of knowledge and understanding the needs of Special Needs patients is excellent. He presents clear and detailed information for his procedures and treatment options along with expectations during aftercare. Follow up instructions include a personal phone call from him as well as additional calls from his office staff. I highly recommend Dr Thoms and definitely give him 5 stars.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re grateful for the trust families place in our team and are committed to providing thoughtful, individualized care with clear communication every step of the way. Your recommendation means a great deal to us!
My hygienist, DeLaina Joost, takes excellent care of my teeth with her advanced skills, gentle touch and great “chair side” manner. She is a consummate professional, and such a compassionate person. I look forward to my visits at DAC!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear you had a positive experience with our team and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
I want to thank everyone at the Dental Anesthesia Center for taking care of me yesterday—Meaghan helped me get the forms filled out correctly and in on time, Daisy for guiding me in and getting me out safely, Dr. Hoffman for taking care of my teeth and dealing with my really terrible gag reflex, and EVERYONE who helps make this happen. I don't know all of your names, but I do know that it takes all of you working together to make my dental care possible and have good results.
I'm always nervous when I first arrive, even though every procedure has had a good outcome. I've never had any pain or excessive bleeding as a result. The one thing I realized yesterday is that all of you are warm, friendly, positive, you have what is called a good vibe, which helps me a great deal.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re so glad our team could help you feel comfortable and supported throughout your visit. Providing a safe, positive environment is very important to us, and your feedback means a great deal. We truly appreciate your trust in our care!
Understanding TMJ
TMJ, also known as temporomandibular disorder, is a broader term referring to several conditions that affect the TM joints, facial nerves, and jaw muscles. Symptoms of TMJ may occur when people twist their jaws while opening them or move them to the side while speaking or chewing.
There are a few major symptoms that we see
with patients who have TMJ and difficulty opening in St. Louis, including:
Earaches
Head and neckaches
Jaw and jaw muscle tenderness
Pain or soreness in the jaw during the morning
or night
Pain or soreness in the jaw while chewing or
yawning
Difficulty opening the mouth
Clicks or pops when opening the jaw
The Causes Of TMJ
Several factors can cause TMJ, though we find that the most common are:
Arthritis
Jaw dislocation
Misaligned bite
Stress can also play a huge role in TMJ. Many people find that their TMJ is aggravated after they perform physically strenuous tasks, such as heavy lifting, working out, etc. The level of pain can significantly increase when the jaw muscles are overused, particularly when grinding or clenching the teeth. Bruxism, the formal term for teeth grinding, causes an increase in the severity of TMJ.
Diagnosing TMJ
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all test to determine if someone is suffering from TMJ. However, it is essential to identify if it is the primary cause of your aches and pains before beginning treatment. It is quite common for people to mistake sinus problems or common toothaches as TMJ symptoms. In many cases, psychological and behavioral factors can come together to cause TMJ as well.
Luckily, here at the Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we can usually diagnose a disorder with a simple description of the symptoms you have, as well as an initial physical examination. We can take X-rays to assess how your bite fits together, or perform specialized TM joint X-rays to examine the possible underlying problem more closely.
What To Do If You Think You Might Have TMJ
One positive aspect of TMJ is that it can often resolve on its own over time. The most important thing to do if you believe you have TMJ is to practice self-care and stress management. Ridding yourself of excess stress can help you ease TMJ symptoms overall.
Of course, you can also visit us here at the
Dental Anesthesia Center to discuss the possibilities of conservative TMJ
treatment.
Making Your First Appointment
It is all too often that TMJ patients avoid the dentist for fear of bringing out their pain. Unfortunately, putting your oral health on the back burner only creates a road to more pain and problems in the future. We work with a diverse range of patients at the Dental Anesthesia Center, specializing in sedation and sleep dentistry for those who require additional support during their dental procedures.
If you’re experiencing jaw pain, please schedule an appointment with us so we can identify the underlying cause and help you return to your normal self. We’re the first two Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri. Call us at (314) 862-7844 to schedule your first appointment.
