The safety, health and well-being of our mutual patients has always been our top priority. Whether this is through the care we provide or the environment of our surgical facilities. Our internal policies and procedures have always exceeded federally mandated guidelines to protect our patients and staff. Our commitment to provide your patients the safest care throughout this evolving situation is not something we take lightly.
We always have and will continue to go above and beyond to ensure that we are exceeding the highest standard of care and customer service.
Here are a few extra precautions that we are taking, but not limited to:
• Monitoring guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization.
• Following the news related to local conditions on an hourly basis.
• Increasing the frequency of our sanitation practices inside and outside our surgical facilities.
• Wiping down our waiting rooms, chairs, counters and door handles hourly.
• Providing additional hand sanitizer to patients.
• Allowing our patients to wait in their cars or outside our office and notifying them when we are ready for their appointment.
We are also asking our patients a few questions to help mitigate any potential exposures. These questions are:
• If you are a patient who has traveled outside the US within the last month
• Had contact with someone who traveled outside the US and was/is now sick
• Had contact with someone who was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus or the flu
• Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms: Temperature, Active Cough or Trouble Breathing
If you answer yes, our doctor will be informed and will take appropriate action to protect patients and staff.
Sincerely,
The Doctors and Staff at SVII
November is TMJ Awareness Month, and we would like our patients that suffer from TMJ in Harrisonburg, VA to realize that relief from chronic jaw pain is possible. Many deal with this condition without realizing that it can actually be diagnosed and treated by an oral health professional like Drs. Saunders.
Defining TMJ
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, which is a complex hinge joint that connects the skull and the jawbone. This joint is the only one in the body that moves three different ways: side to side, forward and back and up and down. Whenever this joint malfunctions or the associated structures are affected, the diagnosis may be TMJ. The condition is often caused by a misalignment of the neck, the jaw or the supporting structures.
Although the numbers may not fully represent the problem because many cases are undiagnosed, it is believed that at least 1 in every 8 Americans deals with pain from TMJ. Women are more likely to develop TMJ than men.
Causes and Symptoms of TMJ
As with most conditions, TMJ can be caused by a number of things. Some common risk factors include:
· Stress
· Trauma
· Clenching or grinding the teeth
· Neck, jaw or head misalignment
· Genetics
· Diseases like arthritis
Many suffer from this condition without realizing that they have it and that treatment is available. Some common symptoms of TMJ are:
· Joint popping or locking
· Tenderness or pain in the jaw or cheek
· Difficulty or pain when chewing
· Aching pain around or in the ear
· Chronic headaches
· Facial swelling
· Dizziness
· Upper back and neck pain and muscle spasms
· Sharp pain in the face
· Deep ear pain
TMJ can be treated with medications, physical therapy, splints and even surgery if it is diagnosed correctly.
Contact Us
If you are dealing with symptoms associated with TMJ and fear that may be your problem, allow us to help you with a treatment plan that is customized to your situation. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment, and start your journey to a life free from pain.