New Hanover County · Since 1987
TMJ Treatment in Castle Hayne, 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
TMJ treatment, explained
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 ›
This treatment in Castle Hayne
Castle Hayne runs on shift work, the nuclear campus, the airport and the rail corridor, and employer dental benefits go unused every year.
Clenching under physical load is common in manual trades, and the wear pattern on the back teeth usually makes it obvious.
GE Vernova Hitachi is the anchor employer, and shift patterns there shape how we schedule Castle Hayne appointments.
River Bluffs has added a different resident profile to what was a rural community a decade ago.
ILM airport sits just south of Castle Hayne, and the NC-133 run to N. 23rd Street avoids the worst of the city traffic.
We see patients from across Castle Hayne and the surrounding area, including GE Vernova Hitachi, ILM airport, River Bluffs and the 28429 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.
Employer plans usually cover a meaningful share of this, and the balance resets in January whether you used it or not.
Early morning appointments starting at 8:00 so a cleaning does not cost you a shift.
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.
Follow-up appointments are brief and we open at 8:00, so they rarely cost more than the start of a shift.
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.
Employer dental benefits reset annually and unused balance does not carry over. If you have not used yours this year, it is worth checking what is left before December.
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
Do I need surgery?
Almost certainly not. The large majority of cases respond to conservative treatment.
Will a drugstore night guard work?
It can protect enamel. It is not adjusted to your bite, and an unadjusted guard sometimes makes the muscle pain worse.
How far is your office from Castle Hayne?
About 11 miles, or roughly 20 minutes via NC-133 South (Castle Hayne Road) to N. 23rd Street. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Castle Hayne?
Regularly. Castle Hayne is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and early morning appointments starting at 8:00 so a cleaning does not cost you a shift.
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 · Castle Hayne, 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.
