TMJ / TMD Therapy

What are the symptoms of TMD?

Since TMD poses a variety of symptoms, it can differ from one person to another. The best way to know if you have TMD is by checking in with your dentist. After a series of initial tests, like looking at your medical and dental history, taking x-rays, and other tests, a diagnosis will be made.
Common symptoms of TMD include:

• When you open or close your mouth, you may hear clicking or popping sounds.
• When chewing or yawning, you may experience pain or discomfort in your jaw.
• Pain or discomfort in places such as the neck, shoulders, and ears.
• Ringing in the ears, hearing loss.
• Chronic headaches/migraines and exhaustion.
• Problems with your lower jaw’s functionality.

What are the treatment procedures available for TMD?

There are various approaches to treating TMD, depending on the severity of your case and at the discretion of your dentist. These can range from home remedies for temporary treatment to advanced surgical solutions. The following are some of the available treatment options for TMD:

• Temporary Treatment for Pain Relief

  It’s important to note that these TMD treatments only offer temporary relief and do not treat the root cause of your TMD. These self-help remedies include physical therapy, massage, dietary limitations, using heat and cold packs, limiting jaw movement, and medications, among others.

• Appliance Therapy

  This form of treatment utilizes dental appliances such as mouth splints and/or mouth guards to help alleviate issues associated with TMD, such as relieving pain or stress on your jaw, improving your mouth’s functionality, including your bite, and allowing your jaw to be aligned with your TMJ socket. The appropriate appliance will be recommended by your dentist after the assessment of your examinations. If you’re interested in getting a dental appliance, Dynasty Tower Dental offers various options, such as night guards and sports mouthwear.

• Occlusal Equilibration

  This treatment is considered by your dentist if they determine that your joint has no structural disorder but still needs alignment due to impediments on the teeth, which affect your bite and result in improper jaw closure. In occlusal equilibration, your dentist gently changes the shape of your teeth to get your bite in line.

• Surgical Treatment

  Surgical procedures are oftentimes considered when all other treatments have been attempted. Surgical treatments will be done by an oral surgeon, and you will be under general anesthesia to numb you in the process. There are also various approaches when performing surgery for TMD, including:

  • Arthrocentesis

    This is a minor procedure where your surgeon inserts needles into your joint area to dispense sterilized fluid, cleansing the affected area. They may also use various dental instruments to treat the affected area, such as repositioning the disc in the joint or simply removing any tissue adhesions.

  • Arthroscopy

    During this option, your surgeon will make a small cut around the temple joint by your ear to insert an endoscope, providing them with visual assistance to remove any adhesions, reposition the disc, or even treat infections.

  • Open joint surgery

    During this option, your surgeon may use a scalpel to re-sculpt or remove the area of concern, depending on the severity of your case. When you do open joint surgery, you can get to areas of the bone that are broken, scarred, getting worse, or even having tumors.

How can you prevent TMD?

Although some TMD symptoms are mostly out of your control, there are ways to prevent the misalignment of your TMJ, such as:

• Practicing good posture
• Wearing protective dental appliances like night guards/mouthguards
• Practicing muscle relaxation techniques
• Avoid putting too much stress on your jaw
• Minding your dietary patterns

How much does TMD therapy cost?

The cost of TMD therapy varies on the severity of your case and the customized treatment plan made by your dentist. Other factors affect this as well, such as the location, the equipment needed to be used, and insurance factors, among others. For a more accurate quotation, you can reach out to us here, and we will happily accommodate your concerns.