TMJ Treatment

Often, you might not need treatment to remove the symptoms of TMJ but if they persist, you should see a doctor. On booking an appointment with a doctor such as Dr Skori, you would be assessed. Diagnosis often takes the form of x-rays and scans to show the condition of the jaw. Things like the position of the inflammation, the jaw locking if there is as well as the muscles and tissues around the jaw can be clearly seen using CBCT scans and MRI scans 

If the symptoms are not so severe, pain relievers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might be prescribed. Some remedies that could help mild TMJ pains include;

• Jaw massages or stretching of the jaw and neck muscles could help relieve the pain. You could also use sedative essential oils such as lavender for the massages as they provide soothing relief.
• Applying moist heat or cold to the jaw. You could do this by placing either an ice pack or warm towel on your jaw for about five to ten minutes daily.
• Avoid hard, crunchy or chewy food that would keep your jaws working for long. This includes chewing gum as well. Instead, eat soft foods
• If your TMJ is caused by stress, your doctor could prescribe anti-anxiety and a measured dose of antidepressant.
• Wearing a dental splint or bite guard might be required if your TMJ dysfunction is caused by bruxism.
• If your teeth are misaligned, you consider wearing a corrective aligner such as our Invisalign Aligner. Our Invisalign Aligner is a popular option that allows you to straighten or align your teeth and could also serve to reduce bruxism. 
• The Invisalign Aligners are clear plastics that blend in with your teeth almost invisibly. These do the same jobs as braces and teeth straighteners except that with these, you do not have to worry about wearing a noticeable teeth aligner.
• Medications could be injected directly into the tender jaw muscles to alleviate the pain. 
• Your doctor could prescribe transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy (TENS). Here, the pains in the muscles are removed by passing a calculated amount of electrical currents through the muscles.

For a more permanent cure, there are several treatments or surgeries your doctor might prescribe. This includes;

• Surgeries such as arthrocentesis might be required to help with locked jaws, especially when locked in a closed position. This procedure washes out the joint and removes damaged tissues
• Your dentist might need to make small incisions to extract the damaged tissues through a process known as arthroscopy.
• In serious cases, you might require open joint surgery and depending on the case, a complete joint replacement might be required.
• If the nerves at the joint are affected, medications targeted at easing nerve pains may also be given and in some instances sleep medications. 

About TMJ and Invisalign Woodland Hills

We know how beautiful a smile is and ensuring you maintain yours is our specialty. With many years of experience, we have provided care on everything around dental health such as;

• TMJ treatments: treatments of pains in the jaw
• Cosmetic and general dentistry
• Invisalign Treatment: Invisalign treatment has been accepted by many as it provides an easier way to align and straighten teeth replacing the painful mouth wires or bulky headgears worn
• Preventive periodontal treatments, 
• Sleep apnea
• Soft tissue laser dentistry
• Chao’s Pinhole Rejuvenation Technique
• Orthodontics
• 3D scans and imaging