What Are Your Treatment Options for TMJ?

April 27, 2023

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect millions of people around the world. Whether you have suffered from TMJ for a few months or for years, it’s important to know that there are treatment options out there that can help alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

So what are your treatment options for TMJ? The following are some of the most common avenues to explore treatment for these disorders.

Addressing Underlying Issues

Research shows that people experiencing anxiety and depression are at higher risk of developing temporomandibular joint disorders [1].

While the link here isn’t clear, it’s important to know that TMJ-related symptoms can be the result of stress and anxiety, so managing and treating these underlying conditions may be an integral part of relieving TMJ symptoms.

Emotional stress has also been linked to teeth grinding and jaw clenching, also called bruxism, which may play a role in the development of TMJ disorders [2]. This is another example of how treating anxiety and depression along with managing stress may help improve your symptoms.

Have Your Bite Evaluated

It’s possible that having an improper bite (also called a malocclusion) could contribute to TMJ disorders, so it’s worth having your bite evaluated if you are having jaw pain [3]. Malocclusions can happen from poor development of the jaw, genetics, crowded teeth, and crooked teeth.

People who have trouble chewing and speaking as a result of a severe malocclusion may be more likely to develop TMJ-related pain and discomfort, or symptoms such as ear popping and jaw clicking.

Fix Old or Defective Dental Restorations

Although it may not seem like dental restorations such as crowns and bridges could have an impact on TMJ, the opposite is often true. Improperly fitted or placed restorations, or those that have shifted over time and need to be replaced, can affect your bite and lead to TMJ symptoms.

It’s essential to properly maintain your dental restorations to ensure they fit correctly and are not causing any symptoms, including TMJ discomfort or even tooth decay underneath the restoration.

Trigger Point Injections

In severe cases of TMJ, trigger point injections can help relieve deep facial pain. However, it’s important to note that this treatment doesn’t typically resolve the core issue. Rather, it can help treat symptoms of TMJ that may be impacting your quality of life.

Trigger point injections involve an injection into the muscles of the jaw that can help relieve pain and, with proper TMJ treatment, prevent the pain from returning. You can ask your doctor if you are a good candidate for trigger point injections to relieve TMJ pain.

Do You Struggle With TMJ?

If you struggle with TMJ or have TMJ-related symptoms such as jaw and facial pain, headaches, or a clicking jaw, don’t wait to see your dentist to determine the cause. Although TMJ is often multi-faceted in origin, you can experience relief simply by addressing the potential underlying causes.