Smiles proudly offers TMJ wellness and TMJ specialist treatment for children and teenagers in Los Angeles. Children’s and teenager’s jaw health plays a key role in their everyday lives and aids in functions like chewing, swallowing, speaking, and yawning. Sometimes, kids and teens live with popping, clicking or even jaw locking thinking that it is normal. Examining the TMJs, evaluating functional mouth-opening and palpating the facial musculature can shed light on symptoms that our young clients may be experiencing and help us formulate a gentle, palliative, and effective treatment plan to ensure their complete comfort and well-being.
TMJ Well-being ·
TMJ Well-being ·
TMJ Well-being ·
TMJ Well-being ·
TMJ Well-being ·
Understanding the TMJ:
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and is the hinge joint that connects the jawbone to the skull. The TMJ consists of bones, muscles, ligaments, and a small disc that cushions the joint to allow smooth jaw movement. Located on each side of the head in front of the ears, the pair of TMJ joints function in synchronized harmony allowing for smooth movements of the lower jaw.
The TMJ joint uniqueness:
- The TMJ combines both a hinge and a sliding motion, making it one of the most complex joints in the body.
- The jaw moving apparatus consists of twin joints with one TMJ present on each side of the lower jaw.
- TMJ joints must function in orchestrated unison to achieve smooth jaw movement.
TMJ Disorders (TMD):
Studies show that temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common in the pediatric and teen groups and can manifest in three main ways:
- Disorders of the joints, including disc disorders.
- Disorders of the chewing muscles (masticatory muscles).
- Headaches associated with TMD.
Common Signs and Symptoms of TMD:
Causes of TMD in kids and teens:
Smiles’ Gentle approach to TMD management:
- Comprehensive Evaluation: We conduct a detailed assessment of your child’s or teen’s jaw, bite, and overall oral health to identify the cause of their TMD.
- Customized Treatment Plans: We create personalized temporomandibular disorder treatment plans based on your child’s or teen’s unique needs.
- Non-Invasive Methods: We focus on gentle therapies to manage symptoms and offer relief and healing.
- Lifestyle Modifications: We provide guidance on small changes that can reduce TMD symptoms, such as posture correction, diet modifications, and proper hydration.
What to expect during a TMJ wellness visit:
Benefits of Early TMD Treatment in kids and teens:
TMD Treatment options:
Hover or tap to reveal steps
1
First-line treatments for managing TMD in younger patients:
- Self-Care and Lifestyle Changes
- Resting the jaw (avoiding gum chewing, tough foods).
- Practicing proper posture (especially for teens using screens).
- Applying moist heat or cold packs to relieve muscle pain.
- Stress management techniques (breathing exercises, mindfulness).
2
Physical Therapy:
- Jaw and neck stretching and strengthening exercises.
- Massage therapy to reduce muscle tension.
3
Red-Light Therapy:
- TheraFace Pro by Therabody infrared and red-light therapy
4
Laser Therapy:
- Photobiomodulation with Gemini Laser
- Solea Laser for muscular relaxation
5
Dental and Orthodontic Solutions
- Bite Adjustments and orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners to correct malocclusion.
- Habit Correction: Addressing oral habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking, or tongue thrusting.
- Orthotic Devices: Custom-made, 3D printed, occlusal splints or night guards to reduce bruxism.
6
Pain Management:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen
- Muscle relaxants for short-term use in severe cases.
7
Advanced Interventions:
- Botox Injections: Temporarily relaxes overactive jaw muscles.
- Trigger Point Injections : For targeted pain relief in the jaw and surrounding muscles.
8
Collaborative care:
We facilitate a team approach and foster collaborations with other practitioners such as pediatricians, ears/nose/throat (ENT) physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, myofuncional therapists and oral surgeons to ensure complete wellness for our children and teens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a poor airway cause TMD?
An obstructed airway can significantly contribute to the development or exacerbation of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) due to the interconnected relationship between breathing, posture, muscle function, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Chronic mouth breathing and open-mouth posture can lead to an altering of the jaw position. This creates tension on the joint and surrounding musculature. Early detection of airway issues in children is key to ensure that they are getting proper sleep and good rest. We collaborate with pediatricians and ENT physicians and educate parents about the importance of this collaboration. Sleep studies may be recommended to diagnose or rule out sleep apnea, tonsil, android and airway issues.
How can stress contribute to TMD?
Stress can contribute to muscle tension, jaw clenching/bruxism, poor posture, altered jaw movements, sleep disturbances and oral habits. When we are worried, stress hormones like cortisol are released in our bodies increasing inflammation and pain. New schools and environments, social changes, exams and competitions are all factors that may cause emotional tension for kids and teens. We believe in supporting kids and teens and helping them understand the mind/body relationship and the role that emotions play on our wellbeing.
How long does TMD treatment take?
TMD treatment sessions for children and teens are about thirty minutes long. During the session, we use a combination of laser palliative therapy, red-light therapy and physical therapy. We also educate and empower our young clients to promote self-care at home. Most kids do very well within 3 sessions of treatment. Follow up for orthodontic care or night guards will continue as we see them for routine dental check-ups.
Is TMD treatment comfortable?
Yes! The sessions are calm, spa-like sessions that are palliative and gentle. Kids really enjoy the relaxing music and sensations of the light and physical therapy. We use organic essential oils and all-natural muscle relaxants.
Can TMD go away on its own?
Kids and teens certainly have high healing capabilities, and some TMD cases can be self-limiting. However, symptoms should be addressed. We believe that health is our birthright and that children should be given every opportunity to nurture well-being through gentle guidance to set the stage for a lifetime of wellness.
✨🦷 Our Founder, Dr. Reem Kabbarah, Shares a Teen Smile Transformation Designed with Care
In today’s evolving world of teen-friendly dentistry, creating a beautiful smile no longer means removing healthy tooth structure. In this blog, our founder Dr. Reem Kabbarah shares how no-prep 3D printed resin veneers offer a conservative and thoughtful way to enhance a teen’s smile while preserving natural teeth. 💫
Mariana has been part of the Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics family since she was a baby. Over time, she shared a simple wish — fuller teeth and a brighter smile. As her smile developed and orthodontic treatment improved alignment, the opportunity came to revisit her goals in a personalized and meaningful way. 🌸😊
With a biology-first approach, careful evaluation of gum architecture and digital smile design allowed for precise planning before treatment began. Through a collaborative process, Mariana was able to preview her future smile and choose what felt most natural to her. ✨🦷
Using no-prep 3D printed resin veneers, her smile was enhanced without removing natural tooth structure. The result feels soft, balanced, and completely her own — a confident smile that preserves long-term dental health. 💛🌿
📖 Read Dr. Reem’s patient story and approach below:
https://smilesla.com/pediatric-dentistry-orthodontics/teen-3d-no-prep-printed-resin-veneers
💬 What matters most to you when it comes to your child’s smile — natural look, comfort, or preserving healthy teeth? Share your thoughts below!
📲 Interested in enhancing your child or teen’s smile while preserving their natural teeth? Contact our office to learn more.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care. Thoughtful design. Confident growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #TeenCosmeticDentistry #NoPrepVeneers #3DPrintedDentistry #LosAngelesPediatricDentist
@solea
@sprintray
@exocadofficial
@dexisimaging
@dr.reem_kabbarah
@cadcamspecialist
🦷🧵 The first dental floss was real silk — fit for elite smiles.
Dentist Levi Spear Parmly The Father of Preventive Dentistry introduced silk thread floss in 1815 to clean tight spaces between teeth. By the 1940s, nylon replaced silk, making floss durable and affordable. That tiny thread still protects forty percent of every tooth surface a brush cannot reach. ✨🪥🦷
Flossing plays an essential role in keeping smiles healthy. Even the best toothbrush cannot clean every surface of the teeth, especially the narrow areas between them where plaque often gathers. Using floss each day helps remove food particles and bacteria from those hidden spaces while supporting healthier gums and stronger enamel. 😊🌿
💬 Do your kids floss daily or are you working on building that habit at home? Share your tips for making flossing fun for children below!
📲 Have questions about your child’s brushing and flossing routine? Our team is happy to help guide healthy habits for growing smiles.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #DentalFloss #HealthyKidsSmiles #KidsDentalHealth #OralHealthHabits #history
🦷🦠 Kids can pass cavity-causing bacteria just by sharing a spoon or straw!
The cavity-forming bacterium Streptococcus mutans spreads through saliva. When children share utensils, cups, pacifiers, or straws, microbes can easily move from one mouth to another. 🔬🥄 Even though these moments seem harmless, bacteria can settle on teeth and begin the process that leads to cavities.
Encouraging children not to share eating tools helps reduce the spread of decay-causing bacteria. Simple habits like using their own utensils, cups, and straws help protect enamel and support healthier smiles as kids grow. 🪥✨ Teaching these small daily practices early helps keep smiles strong and protected from unseen invaders. 😊
💬 Did you know cavity-causing bacteria can spread this way? What healthy habits do you teach your kids to protect their smiles? Share below! 👇
📲 Have questions about cavity prevention or your child’s oral health? Contact our office.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics | Phone: (310) 837-6453 | Email: info@smilesla.com
| Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #CavityPrevention #KidsDentalHealth #HealthyKidsSmiles #OralHealthForKids
🦷🍃 Did you know there’s a gum that can actually help teeth?
Not all gum is created equal. Sugar-free gums made with xylitol or calcium phosphate do more than freshen breath — they help enamel heal by reducing the presence of cavity-causing bacteria. These special gums boost saliva flow, neutralize acids, and help make minerals that rebuild weak spots be bioavailable. Chewing these gums after meals for 5 minutes is a great way to benefit. ✨🪥💧🦷
Saliva plays an important role in protecting teeth. Increased saliva flow helps wash away food particles while supporting a healthier balance in the mouth. For many children and adults, chewing sugar-free gum after meals can be a helpful addition to daily oral care habits when brushing right away is not possible. 🌱😊
💬 Have you or your child tried xylitol gum before? Do you keep sugar-free gum handy after meals? Share your thoughts below!
📲 Have questions about protecting your child’s enamel or preventing cavities? Our team is here to help guide every growing smile.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #Xylitol #CavityPrevention #HealthyKidsSmiles #KidsDentalHealth
🦷🤯 Did you know some kids’ teeth actually develop fused together?
Sometimes during early development, two growing teeth join together and form one larger tooth structure. This rare condition, called fusion, creates a visible line where both teeth developed together. On dental images and during exams, dentists can see this connection and determine how it may affect surrounding teeth. 🔬🦷✨
Because the fusion line often has an irregular shape, it can be harder for children to clean thoroughly. That small groove may trap plaque and food particles more easily than typical tooth surfaces. Early dental care helps monitor these areas, support proper hygiene habits, and guide eruption of nearby teeth as a child’s smile continues developing. 🌱😁
With careful monitoring and preventive care, most children with fused teeth grow up with healthy, balanced smiles. Pediatric dental visits allow families to understand what is happening and ensure every tooth develops comfortably and safely. 💛🪥
💬 Have you ever heard of fused teeth before? Or has your child had a unique dental development? Share your questions or experiences below — we love helping families learn about growing smiles! 👇😊
📲 Have questions about your child’s dental development? Contact our office for a gentle evaluation and guidance.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #FusedTeeth #KidsDentalHealth #GrowingSmiles #PediatricDentalCare
🦷🔬 Science has found the health of your mouth predicts the health of your entire body.
The mouth tells the story of the whole body’s well-being. More than 700 kinds of bacteria live in the mouth, some protect, some create imbalance. When gums are healthy, the entire body flourishes and organs are happy. Heart, brain, and immune system thrive in harmony in the absence of inflammation. This is the knowledge that helps our kids understand the importance of their oral health. ❤️🧠✨🪥🌱
💬 Did you know oral health connects so closely with the rest of the body? What habits help keep your child’s smile healthy every day? Share below! 😊
📲 Have questions about protecting your child’s oral health? Our team is here to help support every growing smile.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #OralHealth #HealthyKidsSmiles #KidsDentalHealth #WholeBodyHealth
🦷✨ Why do baby teeth fall out on their own?
It may look simple when a child wiggles a loose tooth, yet something fascinating happens beneath gums long before that moment. As adult teeth begin forming under baby teeth, specialized cells gradually dissolve baby-tooth roots. On dental images (x-rays) this process can look almost magical, as if roots slowly melt away. 🔬🦷
Nature follows a precise timeline. As roots dissolve, baby teeth loosen and gently fall out, making space for adult teeth ready to emerge. This natural transition helps guide proper alignment while dental arches continue developing throughout childhood. 🌱😊 When everything progresses in harmony, each new tooth arrives exactly where it belongs in a growing smile.
💬 Did your child get excited when their first tooth became wiggly? Or were they nervous about it falling out? Share your favorite tooth-fairy moment with us below! 🧚♀️💫
📲 Have questions about loose teeth, eruption timing, or your child’s smile development? Our team is happy to help guide you through every stage of growing smiles.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for happy, growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #BabyTeeth #ToothDevelopment #GrowingSmiles #KidsOralHealth
🦷⏳ Your teeth are time capsules — they record everything you’ve ever eaten.
Inside each tooth lies something like a biological diary. Layers of dentin quietly store minerals, chemical traces, and even signals connected to stress experienced throughout life. Scientists studying teeth can often uncover remarkable clues about a person’s history. 🔬🦷
From a single molar, researchers may identify where someone grew up, what kinds of foods shaped their diet, and even periods when the body faced illness or environmental stress. Teeth develop in layers over time, and those layers preserve microscopic records of life’s experiences. 🌎✨
Every smile carries more than appearance. Hidden within each tooth exists a small biography of health, growth, and the environments that shaped us along the way. 😊
💬 Did you know teeth could reveal so much about a person’s life? What surprised you most about this dental science fact? Share below!
📲 Have questions about protecting your child’s teeth as they grow? Our team is here to help guide every stage of a healthy smile.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Phone: (310) 837-6453
Email: info@smilesla.com
Address: 10582 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
🌸 Gentle care for growing smiles.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #DentalScience #ToothFacts #HealthySmiles #KidsOralHealth
