New Hanover County · Since 1987
TMJ Treatment in Carolina Beach, NC
Jaw pain, clicking, morning headaches and teeth that are wearing flat usually trace back to the joint and the muscles around it. It is treatable, and it rarely needs surgery.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
What to know about TMJ treatment
The temporomandibular joint takes the load of every clench. When the bite and the joint disagree, the muscles compensate, and the result shows up as headache, earache, neck tension or a jaw that locks.
Full detail on TMJ treatment ›
Patients from Carolina Beach
Nearly half the housing on Pleasure Island is seasonal, so the year-round community here is smaller and often skips routine care for years at a time.
Jaw pain that flares under the pressure of a busy season is a pattern we see, and a properly adjusted night guard usually settles it.
Pleasure Island's year-round community is roughly a third the size of its summer population, and dental care here is often deferred through the busy months.
Snow's Cut Bridge is the single point of access, so we schedule Carolina Beach appointments with the season in mind.
A significant share of the island's year-round workforce is in hospitality without employer dental coverage, and we handle those cases with payment plans rather than assumptions.
We see patients from across Carolina Beach and the surrounding area, including the Boardwalk, Carolina Beach State Park, Snow's Cut and the 28428 ZIP code.
New Hanover County is the built-out core of the region, growing around one percent a year, with roughly 21 percent of residents over 65 and the highest concentration of employer dental coverage in southeastern North Carolina.
Off-season appointments are easier to get and the drive is quicker. If it is not urgent, October through April is the better window.
We keep same-day slots open for Pleasure Island because a chipped tooth on a Saturday should not wait until the season ends.
You may be a candidate if
- Clicking, popping or grating when you open
- Waking with a sore jaw or a headache at the temples
- Teeth that look worn flat or are chipping at the edges
- Jaw that catches or locks
- Ear pain with no ear infection
- Neck and shoulder tension that nobody has explained
The sequence of appointments
- Joint and muscle examWe palpate the joint and the muscles, measure your opening, and listen to the joint through the range.
- Bite analysisHow your teeth meet, and where the wear facets are, tells us what your jaw does at night.
- Night guardA custom guard, adjusted properly, not a boil-and-bite from a drugstore.
- Review and adjustWe see you back to fine-tune it. This step is where most of the benefit is.
- Further treatment if neededBite adjustment, restorative work, or referral for physical therapy.
Afterwards
Wear the guard every night, including the nights you feel fine. Soft diet during a flare, heat on the muscles, and stop chewing gum. Bring the guard to your cleanings so we can check the wear pattern.
If you are away for part of the year, tell us your dates at the start and we will build the schedule around them.
What it costs
A custom occlusal guard is often partially covered by dental plans, and sometimes by medical when headaches are documented. The evaluation is straightforward and we will tell you what your benefits will do before we make anything.
If your income is seasonal, say so at the consultation. We can time treatment phases to the part of the year that suits your cash flow.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Josh Winneberger
Dr. Winneberger on getting you numb without you noticing, and helping nervous patients get comfortable in the chair.
Questions we get asked
Is TMJ the same as grinding my teeth?
They overlap. Bruxism is the grinding. TMJ disorder is what the joint and muscles do about it. Most patients we treat have both.
Do I need surgery?
Almost certainly not. The large majority of cases respond to conservative treatment.
How far is your office from Carolina Beach?
About 15 miles, or roughly 28 minutes via US-421 North over Snow's Cut Bridge. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Carolina Beach?
Regularly. Carolina Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and we keep same-day slots open for Pleasure Island because a chipped tooth on a Saturday should not wait until the season ends.
What are your hours?
Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm. Outside those hours, leave a message or use the appointment request form and we will come back to you with the first available time.
TMJ Treatment · Carolina Beach, NC
Honest dentistry, since 1987.
We will tell you what needs doing now, what can wait, and what we would leave alone.
- Over 50,000 patients treated since 1987
- Comprehensive new patient exam including oral cancer screening
- Three doctors and a long-tenured team
- Most major dental plans accepted
Been told you need a lot of work somewhere else? Second opinions are welcome and we give them straight.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
