TMJ Treatment

Woman with jaw pain

A delicate balance must exist for the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) to function smoothly. When harmonious conditions occur, these joints enable smooth, pain-free jaw motion. When thrown out of balance by stress, a misaligned bite, teeth grinding, or trauma, dysfunction results. As a skilled general dentist with advanced knowledge of the chewing system, Dr. Chris J. Devlin remedies TMJ problems with non-surgical therapy. He studied the complexities of the oral system in-depth at the Dawson Academy, a training ground for dentists who take occlusion and TMJ dysfunction seriously. He’ll carefully evaluate your symptoms, which may include jaw-clicking, the inability to fully open and close your mouth, chronic headaches, and more, then construct a treatment plan to restore harmony. For more information on TMJ treatment, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

What Is TMJ Disorder?

Temporomandibular joint

The TMJ joints typically move with a smooth, gliding motion thanks to the cartilage it is lined with. However, stress or a misaligned bite can cause dysfunction in these joints, exposing nerve endings and resulting in pain. This is what’s called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The TMJ is highly sensitive to overall physical, emotional, and psychological stress. Just a little bit of extra stress or a minor change in your bite can temporarily knock your whole TMJ system out of balance.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

Woman with an earache

There are several different unpleasant symptoms one experiences when they have TMD. Here are some of the most common ones.

  • Headaches: TMD is one of the most undiagnosed causes of frequent headaches and migraines. When the jaw muscles become tense, strained, and overworked, the nearby muscles in your head can be affected.
  • Eat Pain and Tinnitus: Since the TMJ is so close to the ears, TMD can easily lead to ear pain. TMD can also cause some to experience “tinnitus” or a constant tone/ringing in the ears.
  • Face/Jaw Pain: Jaw stiffness and pain are the most common symptoms of TMD. It can be uncomfortable to chew, and lockjaw can occur when attempting to open or close the mouth. You may experience a constant, dull ache or flashes of sharp pain.
  • Bruxism: Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can be caused by daily stress, a misaligned bite, or TMD. It usually occurs while sleeping and can result in the wearing of tooth enamel.

Types of TMJ Treatment

Woman at the dentist

Fortunately, if you have TMD, there are some treatment options available to provide relief. Here are the ones that we offer at our practice.

Occlusal Splint

Man wearing an occlusal splint

An occlusal splint is a customized orthotic device that can help to reduce the prevalence of uncomfortable TMD symptoms. This mouthguard is customized for each patient’s unique dental structure and is intended to be worn at night while sleeping. Once it is placed in your mouth, it will shift your jaw into its ideal position to relieve your joints of additional strain and stress, as well as protect your mouth from the harmful effects of bruxism.

Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment

Chalkboard with tooth drawn

If the cause of your TMD is bite misalignment or an improperly placed restoration, we might suggest an equilibration/occlusal adjustment. This process consists of strategically and gently reshaping the teeth so they come together in a more functional position that doesn’t cause strain to your TMJ.