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TMJ-TMD Treatment in Springdale, AR
Relief for Jaw Pain, Headaches, and Clicking
If your jaw aches when you wake up, clicks when you chew, or feels tight by the end of a long workday, you’re not alone. Researchers estimate that roughly 5 to 12 percent of adults deal with some form of temporomandibular disorder, and many go years assuming the soreness is just stress or a bad sleeping position.
At The Smile Center in Springdale, AR, our dentists evaluate how your teeth, muscles, and jaw joints work together to identify what’s driving your discomfort. We welcome patients from Fayetteville, Rogers, and Lowell who want a clear answer and a practical plan. Call 479-751-8780 to schedule a TMJ evaluation.
Advanced TMJ Training at The Smile Center
Dr. Steven Hankins has completed more than 500 hours of hands-on continuing education, with a strong focus on occlusion and temporomandibular joint disorders. That training shapes how he approaches jaw pain: he treats the bite and joints as one connected system, which means looking past the sore spot to the forces behind it. He was named one of America’s Top 50 Dentists in 2023 by the American Dentist Society and was selected for the ADA Advisory Circle.
Our West Emma Avenue office has served Springdale for more than 40 years, and our team is proud to care for neighbors across Northwest Arkansas. Spanish-speaking patients are always welcome, too. Se habla español. If jaw pain is affecting your sleep, meals, or workday, call 479-751-8780 and let us take a closer look.
What Is TMJ/TMD?
TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the temporomandibular joints, the two hinges that connect your lower jaw to your skull just in front of each ear, and in the muscles that move them.
People often call the condition “TMJ,” which is technically the joint itself. TMD can stem from teeth grinding, clenching, a misaligned bite, joint inflammation, arthritis, or injury, and it often shows up as jaw pain, headaches, ear discomfort, or limited opening.
Common Signs You May Have TMD
Symptoms vary widely, which is part of why TMD is so easy to overlook. Some people feel a dull ache on one side, while others notice their jaw catching or locking. Watch for:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, or temples
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds when you open or chew
- Frequent tension headaches, especially in the morning
- Ear pain, ringing, or a sense of fullness without an ear infection
- Neck and shoulder stiffness
- A jaw that locks open or closed, or difficulty opening wide
- Worn, chipped, or flattened teeth from grinding
- A sudden change in how your upper and lower teeth fit together
What Causes TMJ Disorders?
Most cases develop from a combination of factors rather than a single trigger, such as:
Nighttime grinding (bruxism) and daytime clenching - A bite that does not come together evenly
- Arthritis
- A displaced joint disc
- Past trauma
- Poor posture
- Stress
Because TMD is more common in women, researchers also continue to study possible hormonal links.
How The Smile Center Treats TMJ Pain
Jaw pain is hard to pin down by touch alone. That’s why Dr. Hankins uses Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA), a diagnostic tool that shows how your jaw joints behave when you move. Few practices in Northwest Arkansas offer it.
What Is Joint Vibration Analysis?
JVA is a non-invasive, pain-free test that records the vibrations your jaw joints make as you open and close. You wear a lightweight headset with sensors called accelerometers that capture detailed data in real time as your jaw moves naturally. X-rays and MRIs show the joint’s structure at a single moment. JVA shows how it functions in motion, which is where many TMD problems appear.
How JVA Shapes Your Treatment
Clicking, popping, and grating all suggest something in the joint isn’t moving smoothly. The vibration patterns help Dr. Hankins identify what is behind those sounds, whether it’s a slipped disc, joint inflammation, wear from arthritis, or the effects of past injury or grinding. With that information, we build your plan around your joints instead of guessing.
Tracking Your Progress
Because JVA gives us measurable data, we can compare your results over time instead of relying only on how you feel. At follow-up visits, Dr. Hankins can see whether your joints are responding to treatment and fine-tune your care as needed.
An Accessible Option
The cost of a JVA session is comparable to a minor dental procedure, so it shouldn’t strain your budget. If you’ve been living with jaw pain, clicking, or frequent headaches, call 479-751-8780 to schedule your JVA session with Dr. Hankins.
Other Types of TMD Treatment
JVA is where The Smile Center specializes, but TMD care may involve getting to the root of your problem. Depending on your evaluation, your plan may include some of the treatments below. We don’t specialize in all of them the way we do in JVA, and when a treatment falls outside our focus, we’re happy to refer you to a trusted specialist.
- Custom Occlusal Splints and Night Guards: A precisely fitted appliance worn at night that cushions the teeth, relaxes the jaw muscles, and protects your enamel from grinding.
- Bite Adjustment (Occlusal Equilibration): Carefully reshaping small high spots so your teeth meet evenly and your joints stop compensating.
- Orthodontic Correction: Clear aligners such as Invisalign® can improve bite relationships that contribute to joint strain.
- Restorative Work: Replacing worn or missing teeth with crowns, bridges, or dental implants to rebuild proper bite support.
- Home Care and Lifestyle Changes: Jaw exercises, warm compresses, a softer diet during flare-ups, and better posture habits.
- Referral Coordination: For joint damage or chronic pain that needs medical management, we work alongside physical therapists and specialists.
How Your TMJ Evaluation Works
A TMJ evaluation at our office is thorough but relaxed, and it usually follows these steps:
- Conversation About Symptoms: We ask when the pain started, what makes it worse, and whether you have noticed grinding, clenching, or headaches.
- Joint and Muscle Exam: Your dentist gently checks the jaw joints and surrounding muscles for tenderness, listens for sounds, and measures how far you can open.
- Bite Analysis: We examine how your teeth meet, where wear patterns appear, and whether your bite shifts during movement.
- Imaging: Digital X-rays and iTero® intraoral scans give us a detailed view of your teeth and bite.
- Personalized Plan: We explain what we found and recommend the least invasive treatment likely to help.
- Follow-Up: We check your progress and fine-tune appliances or adjustments as your symptoms improve.
Benefits of Treating TMD Early
Addressing jaw problems sooner rather than later brings relief that reaches well beyond the joint itself, including:
- Less jaw, face, and head pain
- Fewer morning headaches
- Protection against cracked and worn teeth
- Easier chewing, talking, and yawning
- Better sleep for you and possibly your partner
- Lower risk of the condition progressing to joint damage
Frequently Asked Questions
Mild flare-ups sometimes settle within a few weeks, especially when you rest the jaw, eat softer foods, and manage stress. Ongoing symptoms, however, usually point to a habit or bite problem that keeps irritating the joint. Without addressing that cause, the pain tends to return. A dental evaluation can tell you whether simple home care is enough or whether an appliance would help.
Over-the-counter guards can offer short-term protection, but they are bulky and do not account for your bite. Some people actually clench harder on a soft, ill-fitting guard. A custom splint is made from precise impressions or scans, so it holds the jaw in a relaxed position and spreads pressure evenly. It also tends to last much longer.
Clicking usually happens when the small cushioning disc inside the joint slips slightly out of place and then pops back as you open. Many people click without any pain, and that alone may not need treatment. If clicking comes with soreness, catching, or locking, it is worth having your jaw evaluated. Early attention can keep a minor issue from becoming more stubborn.
Yes. The jaw muscles connect up toward the temples, and the joint sits right beside the ear canal. When those muscles are overworked, the pain often radiates upward as tension headaches or into the ear as aching and fullness. Many patients are surprised to find that treating their bite reduces headaches they blamed on something else.
Very few patients ever need surgery. Most patients improve with conservative care such as splints, bite adjustments, exercises, and habit changes. We generally reserve surgery for structural joint damage that doesn’t respond to other treatments. If that ever applies to you, we will coordinate with the right specialist.
Schedule a TMJ Consultation in Springdale
You don’t have to keep working around jaw pain, chew on one side, or reach for pain relievers every morning. The Smile Center gives patients in Springdale, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Lowell a thorough, conservative approach to TMJ/TMD care. Call 479-751-8780 or book online to schedule your TMJ evaluation and take the first step toward a calmer, more comfortable jaw.