BRENTWOODDENTAL & TMD
At a Glance
- Service: Jaw pain treatment: diagnosis and care for popping, clicking, and aching jaw joints and related headaches
- Serving: Franklin and Williamson County, a nine-mile run south of the Brentwood office down US-31 or I-65
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
- Accepting new patients: Yes
- Key differentiator: Diagnosis built on MRI imaging of the joint, not the dated soft-diet-and-no-gum advice
A short drive can save you months of guessing. Franklin sits nine miles south of the office, close enough that getting your jaw looked at properly does not mean rearranging your week. The point of coming here is simple: the sound and ache in your jaw have a physical cause that imaging can show, and a quick trip north gets you an answer instead of another round of soft foods.
Why your jaw pops, clicks, or aches
A small cartilage disc normally sits between the rounded end of your jawbone and the socket in your skull. The ligaments holding that disc can stretch or tear from even a minor injury, which lets the disc slip forward. The pop you hear is the disc snapping back onto the bone as you open, then sliding off as you close. That mechanical event is where a lot of jaw pain starts.
The direction and degree of that slip, plus the shape and health of the disc, decide the diagnosis and the treatment. This is why a look inside the joint matters. Dr. Holmes uses MRI and 3D imaging to see the disc directly rather than infer it from the outside.
Getting Here From Franklin
From central Franklin, US-31 (Franklin Road) runs a straight nine miles north to Brentwood, about fifteen minutes door to door. I-65 north is the alternative and often faster at peak hours; take it to the Brentwood exits and head to Virginia Way. Coming from the Westhaven side, Mack Hatcher Parkway to I-65 keeps you out of the historic-district traffic.
The office opens at 7:00 a.m., so Franklin patients heading north for work can slot a visit in first thing and skip the evening backup entirely. Parking is on-site, which you will appreciate compared with hunting for a spot closer to the city.
Who should come in
Book an evaluation if your jaw clicks, pops, or grinds, if it locks or catches, or if you have a dull ache with no comfortable resting spot. Come in too if your bite feels different than it used to or your teeth are wearing unevenly. Even a painless pop is worth checking, because these joint problems are progressive and quietly worsen when ignored.
Meet Your Doctor: Dr. Dennis M. Holmes
What makes the short drive worth it is a rare habit: Dr. Holmes has ordered MRI scans across the more than 12,000 TMD patients he has treated, which is uncommon in a field where many clinicians still diagnose by feel. That imaging record is what lets him move past the old soft-diet-and-no-gum-chewing advice, which can quiet symptoms briefly but does not address the joint itself. For a Franklin patient who wants the cause identified rather than managed, that difference is the whole reason to come.
What treatment looks like
The first visit is an evaluation: history, a hands-on exam, and imaging to pinpoint what the disc and joint are doing. From there, a plan built for your specific finding, which often includes a custom splint designed around your diagnosis. As the joint settles, the popping and ache ease. Relief tends to build over weeks rather than arriving all at once, which is the honest course for a mechanical joint problem.
Franklin Patient Questions
Is the drive from Franklin quick enough to fit around work?
A: Yes. It is about nine miles and fifteen minutes up US-31, sometimes faster on I-65. With the office opening at 7:00 a.m., many Franklin patients come before work and avoid the commute rush entirely.
My jaw pops but does not hurt much. Do I still need treatment?
A: It is worth an evaluation. The popping means the cartilage disc has shifted, and these joint problems are progressive. Catching a painless click early gives the best chance to stabilize the joint before it starts to hurt or lock.
My last dentist just told me to eat soft foods and avoid gum. Is that enough?
A: That advice can ease symptoms briefly but does not treat the joint itself. With modern imaging, a soft-diet recommendation alone is no longer sufficient. Dr. Holmes images the joint to find the actual cause and treat it.
Is there parking, or is it a hassle like closer to Nashville?
A: Parking at the Virginia Way office is on-site, so there is none of the circling or garage fees you get nearer the city center. It is a straightforward in-and-out for Franklin patients.
What actually causes the popping sound in my jaw?
A: A cartilage disc that has slipped forward off the end of your jawbone. The pop is that disc reducing back onto the bone as you open and slipping off as you close. Imaging shows how far it has moved, which guides the treatment.
Brentwood Dental & TMJ
5120 Virginia Way, Ste C13, Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 371-8888
https://brentwooddentalandtmd.com/areas-we-serve/tmj-specialist-in-murfreesboro-tn/
