Is There An Effective TMJ Treatment?

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can be caused by clenching and/or grinding teeth, injury to the jaw joint, incorrect bite, dislocation of the joint, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in the jaw joint. Effective treatments for TMJ will depend on the cause of the condition.

To control the symptoms of TMJ and reduce pain, some self-care treatments can be done at home. If TMJ becomes severe enough to cause continued pain and discomfort, a visit to the dentist can offer the most effective forms of treatment.

TMJ treatment should begin with self-care and conservative therapies. If the condition does not improve, surgery may be used, but only as a last resort.

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Self-care Treatments
By using some easy self-care treatments, symptoms can often be eased. These include applying moist heat or cold packs to the face and leaving on for about 10 minutes as well as eating foods that are soft, such as mashed potatoes, soup and eggs. Exercises that stretch the jaw are also effective self-care treatments.

Stretch exercises should be followed by applying a warm washcloth to the face for about 5 minutes. Exercises should be done a few times each day. Over-the-counter medications may also be an effective treatment for reducing pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory help reduce swelling and muscle pain.

Dental Treatments
Many dentists treat TMJ or will refer the patient to a neuromuscular dentist that can provide an effective TMJ treatment, which will depend on the cause and the severity of the condition. Treatment may include devices such as night guards or splints, which are worn over the teeth to keep them apart.

They also use specific dental procedures to correct bite problems. Night guards and splints reduce the effects of grinding or clenching the teeth. These devices will also position the teeth correctly so the bite is corrected. Night guards are used while sleeping to reduce teeth grinding and splints are used continuously to prevent clinching and reposition the jaw for realigning the bite.

If these treatment devices do not relieve TMJ, the dentist may perform corrective dental procedures to correct the bite. This could include the use of bridges, crowns, braces or partial dentures. The goal of these dental procedures for TMJ treatment is to balance the surfaces of the teeth so bite problems are corrected and the position of the jaw is realigned correctly.

The dentists main concern when initially beginning treatment is to relieve any pain or muscle spasms. The dentist may use medications, which could include muscle relaxants to relax jaw muscles, pain medications and anti-anxiety medications to reduce stress, which is believed to worsen the symptoms of TMJ.

Most individuals who seek TMJ treatment from a dentist find that treatments are effective and symptoms are relieved. however, it would be wise to try a self-help treatment first. For many people home remedy works and what have you got to lose? If it works then it saves you going to the dentist or forking out for difficult surgery.