Dr. Holt can help you treat your TMD or bruxism symptoms with non-invasive methods of care, like oral appliance therapy and behavioral guidance.

Do You Have Jaw Pain or Tooth Sensitivity?

We Can Help!

TMJ and Bruxism in Knoxville, TN

Do you have sensitive teeth or wake up with headaches? You may have issues with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching). TMJ disorders (TMD) affect millions of Americans and are often more common in women. These disorders can cause pain and affect your quality of life.

TMJ disorders prevent patients from fully opening their mouths, which makes dental hygiene and exams more challenging. Untreated symptoms of TMD and bruxism can put your oral health at risk. Fortunately, Dr. Holt is highly experienced in providing personalized dental care, including TMJ and bruxism treatment.

Do you suffer from TMD or bruxism? Please call us to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Holt. During your appointment, Dr. Holt will recommend the best treatment for your needs.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

TMD affects the jaw joints and surrounding ligaments and muscles.

Symptoms can vary per person, but some common symptoms include the following: woman in pain holding her cheeks

Lockjaw
Jaw pain
Neck, facial, and shoulder pain
Headaches, earaches, and migraines
Grinding or clenching your teeth
Worn teeth
Popping or clicking in your jaw joints
Unable to fully open or close your mouth
A misaligned bite
Tooth sensitivity
Tinnitus

What Causes TMJ Disorders?

Jaw problems can be caused by trauma, accidents, injuries, and conditions like arthritis. How your teeth come together (occlusion) plays a role in TMD and can cause dysfunction of the jaw joints.

How Are TMJ Disorders Treated?

Dr. Holt provides treatment depending on the severity of your symptoms. Treatment can include splint therapy, muscle relaxers, surgery, neuromuscular treatments, and more. Most cases of TMJ can be treated without invasive methods, but severe cases may necessitate surgery.

TMD and Bruxism Treatment in Knoxville, TN

Bruxism is excessively grinding or clenching your teeth and commonly occurs during sleep. While bruxism is common, symptoms can be severe. Common bruxism symptoms are:

Worn teeth
Tooth sensitivity
Headaches

At Dental Co. of Knoxville, treatment for TMD and bruxism involves custom-made nightguards or oral appliances to protect your teeth and jaws from damage and strain. Our custom nightguards reposition the jaws to facilitate relaxation and reduce stress. Unlike generic nightguards, a custom-fitted one fits your mouth’s unique contours and properly aligns your jaw. Dr. Holt can also offer advice on gentle stretching and relaxation exercises you can do at home.

Risk Factors Associated with TMD

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing TMD, such as: oral appliance

Jaw injury
Tobacco use and alcohol consumption
Long-term chronic clenching or grinding of your teeth
Various types of arthritis
Certain autoimmune diseases
Fibromyalgia
Certain connective tissue diseases
Stress or stress-related habits like biting your lip or fingernails

Dr. Holt can help you relieve your symptoms and help you reduce your risks.

Contact Dr. Holt for TMD and Bruxism Treatment in Knoxville

Dr. Holt provides gentle TMJ therapy and bruxism relief at our Knoxville dental office. If you have dental wear or your bite is misaligned, we can also offer tooth restoration due to bruxism-related wear and Invisalign to correct your bite and reduce TMJ or bruxism symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any options to help with my TMJ or bruxism issues?

Dental Co. of Knoxville is pleased to offer custom-fitted oral appliances and behavioral guidance to reduce TMJ and bruxism symptoms.

Bruxism is the habit of grinding and clenching teeth, and it usually occurs during sleep. People with TMJ disorders often also have a bruxism habit; they usually go hand-in-hand. Though painful, TMJ and bruxism issues can be treated through wearing a nightguard, relaxation exercises, pain relievers, and more.

We Create Custom-Fitted Nightguards in Knoxville, TN

Dr. Holt takes digital impressions of your mouth to create custom-fitted nightguards. The nightguard is comfortable and aims to reposition the jaws, reducing the stress and strain on the joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. A custom nightguard also protects your teeth from wear and damage that can occur due to grinding and clenching your teeth.

Do You Have Jaw Pain or Clench Your Teeth?

Dental Co. of Knoxville wants the best for your oral health and wellness. Untreated bruxism and TMD can cause pain and drastically impact your quality of life. Dr. Dyron Holt is experienced in TMD and bruxism treatment, and he can help you determine the best treatment for your needs. Call us today to schedule a consultation.

We look forward to serving you at our Knoxville dental office!

Meet Our Team:

Dr. Dyron Holt DDS, FAGD, FICOI

Education

Carson-Newman College, Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Jefferson City, TN (2008)
Meharry Medical College, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Nashville, TN (2015)
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, General Practice Residency, Cleveland, OH (2016)
Fellowship, International Congress of Oral Implantology (2018)
Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (2025)
What Brought Me to Dentistry

I love being able to work and give back to my community. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I knew I wanted to do something related to healthcare. With support and encouragement from my family, I found dentistry allowed me to establish connections with patients, solve ...