TMJ Treatments

• JOINT EXERCISES

  We may teach you a series of exercises that you can do to help relieve some of your symptoms, if not all of your symptoms.

• REPLACE MISSING TEETH

  When one or more teeth are missing, other teeth shift in the mouth, altering your bite and how your lower teeth and upper teeth fit together. As a result, the joint is altered and becomes unbalanced.

• CORRECTING OCCLUSION

  Crowns, bridges, and/or orthodontic treatment may be needed to adjust how your upper and lower teeth come together. If your teeth do not come together properly when your mouth is closed or when you chew, the joint can’t function properly.

• ORTHOTIC APPLIANCE

  An orthotic appliance is custom designed for each patient to keep a person from clenching their teeth. Clenching causes muscle tension and stress on the joint. An orthotic appliance can also be designed to move the jaw and muscles into their correct position.

• MEDICATIONS AND HOT/COLD COMPRESSES

  These are used to reduce swelling, relax the muscles, and relieve discomfort.

• NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY

  Neuromuscular dentistry refers to techniques used to move the jaw, muscle tissue, soft tissue, and fatty tissue of the face and joint back into their correct position, relieving symptoms and correcting TMJ disorders.

• SURGERY

  Surgery is reserved for extreme cases of a TMJ disorder and is usually only recommended as a last resort when all other treatment options have failed or when surgery is the only option available to correct the disorder.

Other forms of treatment include the use of massage therapy to relieve stress and loosen tight muscles. Relaxation therapy and lifestyle changes may also be recommended. Treatment can also include the breaking of habits such as excessive gum chewing, nail biting, or biting on a pen that lead to the development of TMJ disorders.