TMJ Treatments & Therapies

In order to evaluate your temporomandibular joint and determine if you are suffering from TMD (Temporomandibular Dysfunction), we use advanced technology to provide scientific data to determine if your TMJ symptoms are being caused by malocclusion (a “bad bite”), skeletal relationships, and/or joint derangement or deterioration.

Since the cause of TMJ symptoms and craniofacial pain (CFP) can result from any of these challenges, the non-surgical solution and treatment for the symptoms is aligning the joint and its supportive disc by making sure your jaw and bite is in its optimal position and relaxing the muscles and nerves that are being strained or are in spasm.

In order to correct your TMJ symptoms, we will typically develop a treatment plan specific to your needs. TMJ treatment follows a few common steps, including:

• Relieving muscle and nerve pain

  - painful muscles and nerves surrounding the temporomandibular joint can be relaxed with gentle pulsing electronic stimulation. We use ULF-TENS (Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation) technology to soothe muscles in your jaw, head and neck.

  • Local anesthesia,
  • Botox®,
  • Intramuscular stimulation of trigger points,
  • Prolotherapy,
  • Chiropractic Therapy,
  • and Massage

are also effective for reducing or relieving pain, however, addressing the underlying structural pathology by stabilizing the bite, joint and disc typically results in more successful long-term pain relief and in reducing the deterioration of the joint.

Stabilizing your bite and joint

Long-term treatment

- This can include a number of different or combined TMJ solutions, including:

• - after your doctor has determined where your optimal jaw position is, we will help you keep your jaw in the position with a temporary orthotic that can be used to relieve your symptoms before a permanent treatment is performed.  Additionally, if back teeth (molars) are missing, these will need to be replaced to provide support for the TMJ.  Dental implants are preferable as they have a very long-term

   

  • Occlusal adjustments, or the slightly reshaping your teeth for a more comfortable bite;
  • Orthodontics (Phase 1 appliance therapy & Phase 2 braces) to structurally correct the orthopedic challenges on the teeth, jaw, mouth and airways; preferably orthodontics should be performed without extracting any teeth which can further complicate the bite and narrow the arches and airways;
  • Restoring all your teeth placing crowns, sometimes called full mouth reconstruction, to rebuild a healthier bite, and if necessary, to increase the vertical dimension of your smile allowing more decompression of the temporomandibular joint and thus more blood flow and nutrients to the joint to help aid optimal healing and pain relief;
  • or a removable orthotic, or mandibular repositioning appliance(MRA), which can be worn indefinitely to help decompress the TMJ, allow more blood flow, and help to maintain more relaxed muscles and nerves of the head, face and neck.

All of these TMJ treatments are used to comfortably maintain your jaw in the most healthy and relaxed position possible and are dependent on the extent of damage to the joint tissues, its disc, and the skeletal structures, teeth and bite which support it as well as the possible healing that can occur.  The most optimal long-term treatment options result in your teeth and bite being correctly positioned through orthodontics or other full mouth restorations so that your teeth can help provide the proper functional support to maintain a healthy jaw joint.

Our doctors are experienced neuromuscular dentists in Venice and Sarasota, Florida.  If you are suffering from CFP and TMJ symptoms, we can develop a treatment plan for you that will provide relief and help to prevent future problems.

In the event that your treatment care requires complex dental or medical surgery, we work with a network of the finest medical/dental and healthcare specialists to augment our services. Our highly trained clinical support staff and treatment coordinators ensure that our guests receive the finest care in an atmosphere of gentle, supportive understanding.

Contact The Smile Centre today to schedule your free initial consultation. During your initial consultation, we will answer your TMJ and CFP questions and determine if your temporomandibular joint and its associated structures are the cause of your pain.