Facial Reconstruction

TMJ Treatment in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area

TMJ disorders are a family of problems related to your complex jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a clicking sound, you’ll be glad to know that these problems are more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles (muscles of mastication) do not work together in harmony. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.

No one treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely, and treatment takes time to become effective. As oral surgeons, our Doctors are very well-versed in managing TMJ conditions and can help you have a healthier, functional, and more comfortable joint. Schedule an appointment at DFW Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery if you want to benefit from our options for TMJ treatment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area including Irving, Mesquite, and Ennis, Texas.

Trouble with Your Jaw?

TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth, or trouble opening your mouth wide. Find TMJ treatment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area at our oral and maxillofacial surgical center.

Do You Have a TMJ Disorder?

Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth? Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?  Do you have frequent headaches or neck pain? Does the pain get worse when you clench your teeth? Does stress make your clenching and pain worse? Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth? Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat, or yawn? Have you ever injured your neck, head or jaws? Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints? Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite? Do your teeth meet differently from time to time? Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food? Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken, or worn?

The more times you answer “yes,” the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.

Treatment

There are various treatment options that we can utilize to improve the harmony and function of your jaw. Whether you’re clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth, our Dallas-Fort Worth TMJ specialists are here to help. Once an evaluation confirms a diagnosis of TMJ disorder, the proper course of treatment will be determined. It is important to note that treatment always works best with a team approach of self-care joined with professional care.

The initial goals are to relieve muscle spasms and joint pain. This is usually accomplished with a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, or BOTOX injections into the masticatory muscles. Steroids can be injected directly into the joints to reduce pain and inflammation. Self-care treatments can often be effective as well and include:

Resting your jaw
Keeping your teeth apart when you are not swallowing or eating
Eating soft foods
Applying ice and heat
Exercising your jaw
Practicing good posture

Stress management techniques such as biofeedback, working out, yoga, or physical therapy may also be recommended as well as a temporary, clear plastic appliance known as a splint. A splint or night guard fits over your top or bottom teeth and helps keep your teeth apart, thereby relaxing the muscles and reducing pain. There are different types of appliances used for different purposes. A night guard helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension at night to help protect the cartilage and joint surfaces.

What about bite correction or surgery?

If your TMJ disorder has caused problems with how your teeth fit together, you may need treatment such as bite adjustment (equilibration), orthodontics with or without jaw reconstruction, or restorative dental work. Surgical options such as arthroscopy and open-joint surgery are sometimes needed. Surgical treatment of the TMJ is typically reserved for severe cases where the jaw can’t open, is dislocated, has severe degeneration, or the patient has undergone conservative therapy with no improvement. If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and seeking TMJ treatments, reach out to our team today!