TMJ in Miami FL

Jaw pain can make everyday activities—eating, speaking, and even yawning—uncomfortable. At Oscar L. Castro, DDS, Dr. Oscar Luis Castro Jr., a Dawson trained dentist, takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating jaw discomfort, understanding your symptoms, and helping you explore appropriate care.

What Does Being a Dawson-Trained Dentist Mean for You?

Dr. Castro is a Dawson Academy graduate with postgraduate training in TMJ evaluation and full-mouth reconstruction. The Academy’s philosophy of “Complete Dentistry” emphasizes understanding how the teeth, jaw joints, and chewing muscles function together.

For patients, this means an examination that looks beyond individual teeth. Dr. Castro considers your symptoms, jaw movement, muscle comfort, tooth wear, and how your teeth meet. He uses this information to explain his findings and develop a thoughtful treatment plan.

This training also informs the planning of crowns and other restorations, with attention to both appearance and function.

What Is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, connect your lower jaw to your skull. Together with the surrounding muscles, they allow your jaw to open, close, and move.

Conditions affecting these joints and muscles are called temporomandibular disorders, or TMD, although patients often refer to them as “TMJ.” These conditions can have several contributing factors, making an individualized evaluation important.

Symptoms may include:

• Jaw or facial pain

• Jaw stiffness or muscle tenderness

• Painful clicking or popping

• Difficulty chewing or opening your mouth

• Jaw locking

• Headaches associated with jaw discomfort

Personalized Evaluation and Treatment

Your visit begins with a discussion of your symptoms and medical and dental history, followed by an examination of your jaw joints, muscles, and teeth. Imaging or a specialist evaluation may be recommended when appropriate.

Care generally begins with conservative options. Depending on your needs, these may include guidance on reducing clenching and other habits, exercises or physical therapy, and a custom oral appliance when indicated. Appliances can protect teeth from grinding; their benefits for jaw pain vary.

If teeth are worn or damaged, Dr. Castro will discuss their restorative needs separately from treatment for jaw pain.

Schedule a Consultation

Call (305) 559-7001 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Castro at our Kendall office. We’ll help you understand your symptoms and the next steps for your care.