TMJ Treatment – Fairfax
Relieve Your Popping, Painful Jaw
Has your jaw been popping, clicking, or hurting when you chew your food or open your mouth? Do you have frequent morning headaches and earaches? This could be a result of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, also known as TMD. This is when the jaw joints aren’t functioning properly, leaving you with numerous uncomfortable symptoms. At Fairfax Dental Group, we offer a couple TMJ treatment options to give you some relief. Continue reading to learn more about TMD and how we can help!
What Is TMJ Disorder?
Your TMJ is a set of small hinges located in front of your ears. This joint is what allows your lower jaw to move up and down when you speak, laugh, and talk. The TMJ is one of the most complex joints in the body, so it can be disturbed by a misaligned bite, teeth grinding, and other factors. When the TMJ is disturbed, this is called TMJ disorder.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
There are various symptoms of TMD. Here are some of the most prominent ones that are experienced:
- Headaches: One of the most underdiagnosed causes of frequent headaches is TMD. The jaw muscles become tense, strained, and overworked, so it is easy for this to affect nearby muscles in the head.
- Ear Pain: Since the TMJ is located next to the ears, having a dysfunctional joint can easily result in ear pain. It can also cause ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
- Face/Jaw Pain: Jaw stiffness and pain are the most common symptoms of TMD. It can be difficult to chew comfortably, and lockjaw is very common.
- Bruxism: Teeth clenching and grinding can be caused by daily stress, a misaligned bite, and TMD. It usually happens during sleep and can overwork the jaw muscles, leading to additional pain.
Types of TMJ Treatment
Depending on the cause of your TMD and how severe it is, there are various TMJ treatment options available. Here are the ones that we offer at our Fairfax dental office.
Occlusal Splint
An occlusal splint is a customized orthotic device that is worn to reduce the prevalence of TMD symptoms. Every device is a little bit different and is worn during sleep. It works by shifting the teeth into the ideal position to relieve your joints of additional strain and stress. It can also reduce the harmful effects of teeth grinding and clenching.
Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment
If your TMD is the result of bite misalignment or an improperly placed restoration, we might suggest occlusal adjustments. During this time, we will strategically and gently reshape your teeth so that they come together in a more functional manner that doesn’t cause your joints to be strained. Ultimately, this will allow the teeth to come together correctly, the jaw muscles to relax, and TMD symptoms to subside.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can you permanently cure TMJ disorder?
TMJ treatment can help drastically minimize, and in some cases erase, symptoms associated with TMJ disorder, but whether your issue is cured depends on your unique circumstances. For example, a nightguard or occlusal splint can help keep your symptoms from becoming worse and even cause them to go away over time, but it’s possible that they will return if you were to stop using it.
On the other hand, occlusal adjustment is often recommended when improperly done restorative dentistry or misshapen teeth are causing one or both jaw joints to sustain additional tension and force. This treatment acts to adjust the existing dental work or teeth to even out your bite, ideally fixing the source of the problem and permanently relieving your symptoms.
How long will TMJ treatment take?
With treatments like occlusal adjustments, you may be able to notice results immediately now that your bite is balanced. However, nightguards, occlusal splints, and at-home massages can all take a little bit of time and require consistent use in order for you to experience relief. In many cases, patients are able to notice results and enhanced comfort after just a few days of use with a splint or nightguard.
If you notice that you’re not experiencing any relief, please call our office so we can ensure your nightguard or splint is correctly fitted to your mouth.
Is it possible to treat TMJ disorder without surgery?
Yes! In fact, our team offers only non-surgical TMJ treatments, including equilibration/occlusal adjustments as well as occlusal splints.
Is TMJ treatment expensive?
The cost of your treatment largely depends on whether you have dental insurance and what type of TMJ treatment you’re receiving. Our team will provide you with a detailed cost estimate before we move forward with treatment to make sure that you have a clear understanding of any out-of-pocket expenses you may need to pay.
Will my dental insurance cover the cost of TMJ treatment?
In some cases, dental insurance may cover a portion of the cost of TMJ treatment. This will largely depend on your individual plan’s benefits. Our team will conduct a complimentary benefits check with your dental insurance so we can let you know how much if any of the cost will need to be paid out-of-pocket. Plus, because our office is in-network with several major PPO insurance plans, we’re able to maximize your savings!
If you’re concerned about paying for TMJ treatment, we also partner with trusted, third-party financier, CareCredit. Upon approval, you’ll be able to split the cost of your treatment up into smaller, easy-to-manage monthly payments.
Is TMJ treatment safe?
As long as your TMJ treatment is performed by a qualified professional, the process should be completely safe. It is usually recommended that TMJ disorder is treated with as minimally invasive and conservative treatments as possible. That’s why your dentist will suggest several possibilities for treatment before undergoing surgery, which comes along with risks. Occlusal splints and equilibration/occlusal adjustments have all been proven to be overwhelmingly safe for addressing TMD.
Does occlusal adjustment for TMJ hurt?
No matter which specific changes need to be made to properly align your teeth and jaws, your dentist will ensure that your occlusal adjustment is comfortable every step along the way. Typically, occlusal adjustment is performed by precisely filing down the biting surfaces of the teeth that protrude and throw off the bite’s overall balance. A tiny dental drill is used to remove a small amount of enamel to alleviate the stress on your jaw joints without negatively impacting your oral health.
Can TMJ be fixed with clear aligners?
Sometimes, TMJ disorder is caused by your upper and lower jaws not being aligned properly, causing them not to come together as they should. It could also be the result of crooked or crowded teeth, which can unevenly distribute the biting force, exerting more pressure on one side of the jaw than the other. In these cases, bringing the jaws and teeth into ideal alignment with clear aligners may alleviate some of the unpleasant TMJ symptoms. During your appointment, we will go over all of your options to determine the best course of action for you.
How do I care for my occlusal splint?
Here are some steps to keep your occlusal splint in good condition for as long as possible.
- After removing your occlusal splint, rinse it and brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Avoid using abrasive toothpastes on the splint.
- Don’t use hot water to clean the splint. This can cause the material to warp.
- Keep your occlusal splint in a dry, safe place away from pets and direct sunlight.
- Keep your splint in its case when you aren’t using it.