Find Relief from Chronic Jaw Pain
The joint that allows you to move your lower jaw is known as the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short. If something goes wrong with this joint, it can lead to significant discomfort and take a toll on your everyday life. The good news is that the team at Waban Dental Group offers multiple ways to address your TMJ disorder and alleviate your pain. If you’re interested in learning more about our options for TMJ treatment in Newton, give us a call today.
Why Choose Waban Dental Group for TMJ Treatment?
- Fully Personalized Occlusal Splints
- BOTOX® Injections Available
- Caring, Knowledgeable Dental Team
What Is TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ disorder occurs when the TMJ becomes strained or injured in some way. The condition is often a consequence of a sudden blow to the face or jaw; it can also be linked to bite problems, stress, and frequent grinding and clenching of the teeth. TMJ disorder is often quite painful, and it can easily grow worse over time if you don’t take the appropriate steps to have it treated.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
The exact symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary depending on its underlying cause. Common warning signs include:
- Persistent jaw pain.
- Frequent headaches and migraines.
- A clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw.
- Neck pain, back pain, or pain behind the eyes.
- Tinnitus (meaning there’s a ringing sound in your ears).
- A notable change in your bite.
- Limited jaw movement.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should call our office to schedule an appointment. We’ll perform a thorough examination in order to diagnose the problem and determine the best steps for treating it.
Types of TMJ Treatment
Our practice offers a wide range of TMJ treatments that include personalized bite splints, occlusal adjustments, BOTOX®, anti-inflammatory medication, orthodontic therapy, physical therapy, moist heat, and tooth replacement. The service that we recommend in your case will depend on what’s causing the disorder. Below is a closer look at some particularly noteworthy TMJ treatment options.
Bite Splint
A bite splint is a simple oral appliance that is meant to be worn over the teeth at night. The device helps alleviate some of the stress on your TMJ by moving the lower jaw slightly forward. It also prevents the upper and lower rows of teeth from directly touching each other, thus providing protection against the grinding and clenching that often contribute to TMJ disorder.
Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment
Sometimes issues with your TMJ are a side effect of teeth that don’t come together properly. In cases like this, we may recommend equilibration. This is when we make slight alterations to your teeth so that the upper and lower arches make contact in all the right places. The result is a more balanced bite that doesn’t put as much strain on your TMJs.
BOTOX® for TMJ Treatment
BOTOX® doesn’t just smooth wrinkles; it can also help reduce the pain associated with a TMJ disorder. A BOTOX® injection can temporarily relax the muscles in the area around your jaw joint, thereby stopping the unconscious jaw movements that can make TMJ disorder worse. You can generally expect the treatment to provide relief for about three to four months.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Does Equilibration for TMJ Disorder Hurt?
The equilibration process often involves removing enamel from certain teeth in order to restore balance to your bite. While it’s understandable to be nervous about undergoing this treatment, you can rest assured that the procedure typically involves very little discomfort. In fact, it may not even be necessary to numb your mouth with a local anesthetic beforehand, although we may still do so under certain circumstances.
There may be some minor soreness after your equilibration, but it will typically only last a few days before fading on its own. You should be able to keep the discomfort under control by taking over-the-counter pain relievers and maintaining a diet of soft foods that don’t require much chewing.
How Long Does TMJ Treatment Take?
The timeline for TMJ treatment in Newton can vary depending on what service is performed. For example:
- If you wear a bite splint every night, you may notice an improvement in your symptoms in a matter of weeks, but it can take months to achieve full relief.
- After equilibration, you’re likely to experience a notable reduction in jaw pain relatively quickly. The exact amount of time needed to achieve relief largely depends on the changes that were made to your teeth.
- A BOTOX® treatment for TMJ disorder can often be completed in about 30 minutes. After the procedure, you should experience relief within a matter of days.
Before you move forward with any sort of TMJ treatment, our team will give you a reliable estimate of what the timeline will look like so that you can plan accordingly.
Can TMJ Disorder Be Cured Permanently?
Some forms of TMJ treatment provide more permanent relief than others. For example, BOTOX® is a temporary solution for TMJ-related pain that needs to be redone every three to six months. Conversely, bite splints and equilibration often provide more lasting relief because they address the underlying cause of your TMJ disorder. When you visit us for TMJ treatment, we’ll make sure that you have a realistic idea of how long the results will last.
Is TMJ Treatment Covered by Insurance?
TMJ treatment can potentially fall under either medical or dental insurance depending on the situation. It should be noted that some insurance policies may only cover specific forms of TMJ treatment; other policies may not help pay for such procedures at all unless they are required to by the state.
Before pursuing TMJ treatment, you should review your insurance plan to make sure that you understand your benefits. If there’s anything you’re unclear on, it’s a good idea to call your insurance provider.
