Oral Appliances in Fort Atkinson, WI

Discover how this conservative solution could change your life.

Is This the Right Choice for You?

Girl holding a clear aligner

Oral appliance therapy is often the best choice for treating temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD). It can perform several functions:

  • It can relax your jaw muscles

  • Hold your joint in place to prevent misalignment that causes symptoms

  • Protect your teeth from wear and damage linked to bruxism

A TMJ dentist is the best choice to fit you with an oral appliance for this condition. Starting with a proper diagnosis, Dr. Jennifer StaffordThis link leads to Doctor page will reduce or eliminate most or all of your symptoms.

The Oral Appliance Process

The oral appliance process starts with a positive diagnosis of your TMJ. Often, this involves relaxing your jaw muscles with TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). This can provide immediate relief from jaw pain, headaches, and other symptoms of muscle tension. 

Then Dr. Stafford will determine the optimal position of your jaw. The oral appliance will hold your jaw in that position and also protect your teeth from damage related to bruxism. 

Sometimes you might need an adjustment. This can occur as your jaw responds to treatment or as the condition progresses.

Wearing Your Oral Appliance

At first, you will probably want to wear your oral appliance all day. Your jaw needs to be repositioned and your muscles adapted to holding your jaw in a healthy position. 

Over time, you will transition to wear it just at night. Your initial relief from symptoms will diminish at first, then improve over time as the jaw adjusts. In about six to eight weeks, you’ll experience fairly complete relief from symptoms, though it can take longer. 

It can take time to adapt, however, over time you will get comfortable wearing it. Most people find that they can adapt well to wearing an oral appliance for their TMJ.

Effective TMJ Treatment in Fort Atkinson

Is an oral appliance your long-term TMJ treatment?

Picture of a man laughing

For most people, this is a good long-term treatment option. If it works for you, then we will keep using it. However, sometimes people might need additional treatment. We will determine this based on:

  • Your symptom relief

  • Your ability to adapt to wearing the appliance

  • Your need for repair of crooked, damaged, or worn teeth

If you need additional treatmentThis link leads to TMJ Treatment page beyond oral appliance therapy, we will talk to you about options such as restorative dentistry, surgery, or orthodontics.

Our doctors smiling.

Take control of your oral health for a lifetime of smiles.

"TMJ Specialist" is not officially recognized by the American Dental Association. Dr. Stafford is a general dentist with many years of training in TMJ and neuromuscular dentistry, even though the specialty is not officially recognized. However, Wisconsin requires the following statement. "Cosmetic dentistry, TMJ, Neuromuscular dentistry, and Aesthetic dentistry are specialty areas not recognized by the ADA that requires no specific educational training to advertise this service".