TMJ
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- Free Initial Consultation ($50* Value)
*Conditions Apply
WHY CHOOSE
Big Smiles?
SKILLED & COMPASSIONATE
DEVOTED TO THE NEEDS OF EACH PATIENT
Graduated at the Top of his Class from University of the Pacific School of Dental Medicine, San Francisco
20+ Years Clinical Experience
Excels in Implant, Restorative, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
- 100s of Root Canals Completed
- 1000s of Implants Placed
MASTERSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP, International College of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)
FELLOWSHIP, International Dental Implant Association (IDIA)
- Awarded for Distinguished IMPLANT EXCELLENCE
FELLOWSHIP, Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD)
- Awarded to Only 6% of Dentists Nationwide
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Testimonials
My daughter is currently having braces treatment at BigSmiles Dental Care and I am very impressed with this dental practice so far. They got us in for our initial consultation on a day that worked for us, and were able to start her braces right away. Dr. Larry Lu sat down with us and explained my daughter's dental issues in simple English that we both could understand. He was quite detailed and some of what he told us we were unaware of up to that point. My daughter felt he was friendly and wanted to go ahead with the treatment with him. Luckily, his price was fair. We were quoted about 2 thousand dollars less than what other local orthodontists quoted us. Nancy (the always smiling front-desk girl) was extremely thorough in going over the treatment schedule and finances. We were fortunate that we have insurance plan to cover about 50% of the cost. Nancy was also good in taking care of the insurance submission for us. I am very confident that Dr. Lu and his staff will make braces as pleasant as possible for my daughter.
William G.★★★★★
Dr. Lu is an amazing dentist - I am lucky to have him! The staff at BigSmiles are always caring, kind and helpful, especially Charlene at the front desk who makes sure I get in right away whenever I am in pain. I have been going to BigSmiles Dental for 10+ years and couldn't recommend better people.
Keandra Elvarezza★★★★★
Another great appointment with the amazing staff at Big Smiles. Friendly, knowledgable and all-around awesome people. I think I'll go back again next week.
David Ashton★★★★★
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Frequent headaches? Uncomfortable bite? Neck/Shoulder/Back/Face pain? Jaw locking when the jaw is opened or closed? These are all symptoms of TMJ Disorder.
What is
TMJ?
“TMJ” is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, that is to say, the jaw joint. The temporomandibular joints are the joints in front of the ears attaching the lower jaw to the skull. They are essential to daily jaw functions such as opening and closing your mouth, chewing and speaking.
What Are
TMJ Disorders?
TMJ disorders refer to conditions, manifested by pain in the area of the jaw and jaw muscles and limitations in the ability of the jaw to operate normally while speaking, eating, and swallowing.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health states that 10.8 million people in the USA suffer from TMJ problems. 90% of those seeking treatment for TMJ are women during their childbearing years.
What Causes
TMJ Disorders?
Medical research has not yet defined all the causes of the various TMJ disorders. Some patients report having TMJ symptoms following trauma, dental treatment, traffic accidents, trauma, or following the adoption of habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth. Arthritis in other parts of the body is sometimes linked to TMJ pain.
Symptoms of
TMJ Disorder
- Frequent headaches
- Uncomfortable bite
- Neck/shoulder/back pain
- Facial swelling
- Pain of the face
- Pain of the jaw joint and/or the ear
- Jaw locking when jaw open or closed
- Restricted ability or complete inability to open the mouth without pain
Treatment of
TMJ Disorder
At present, there are more than 50 treatments in use ranging from very conservative, reversible therapies to more aggressive, invasive approaches.
Please call us to schedule a consultation to help you decide which therapy is right for you.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss any aspect of your dental health – we don’t charge for giving advice!