Treatments for TMJ – What are My Choices?

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders are more commonly known as TMJ.  TMJ is a group of conditions that affects the muscle and jaw joints that are responsible for controlling jaw movements.  Injuries can sometimes be the cause in some TMJ problems, but for most people, symptoms seem to start without obvious reasons.

The good news is that for most people who suffer from this disorder, pain in this area is not a signal of a severe problem.  Usually, pain is occasional and temporary and will eventually go away with little or no treatment. Even if symptoms continue, most patients do not need aggressive types of treatments for TMJ.

The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, sponsor scientists who are looking for answers to what are the causes for these disorders and what is the best way of treating them.  At this time, there is little scientific evidence that shows which treatments work and which do not.  Until there is actually science based evidence to help health care providers make positive treatment decisions, the NIH suggests other options as treatments for TMJ.

It is suggested to try simple self-care practices such as using ice packs and avoiding too much jaw movements – like wide yawning and gum chewing, and also eating soft foods.  Short-term use of over-the-counter or prescription pain medicines can also provide some relief.

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Treatments for TMJ that causes permanent changes in the bite or jaw should also be avoided.  This includes crown and bridge work to balance the bite, orthodontics to change the bite, grinding down teeth to bring the bite into balance, and repositioning splints are known to permanently change the bite.

Surgical treatments for TMJ should also be avoided as much as possible since there have been no long-term studies to test the effectiveness of these procedures.  Before you consider getting any surgery performed on the jaw joint, it is imperative to get other doctors’ opinions and to fully understand the risks.

TMJ implants are also thought to be one of the treatments for TMJ. These procedures include the replacement of the jaw joint(s) and disc(s), should be carefully considered only as a treatment of last resort, since this procedure is only intended to improve jaw function.

Pain alone is not reason enough to undergo a TMJ replacement procedure; often, the pain level stays the same or even increases after surgery, and may even result in causing permanent damage.  Some of these devices my fail to perform properly or may even break.

In short, there currently are no known treatments for TMJ that has been proven to work as a preventive measure for these disorders.  Finding the right care can be quite difficult since there is no certified specialty for TMJ disorders in either dentistry or medicine.

It is important, however, to look for a health care provider who understands musculoskeletal disorders, which are disorders affecting muscle, bone, and joints, and who is specially trained in treating pain conditions.  Pain clinics in universities and hospitals are often a good source of advice.