All About TMJD

Treating TMJ: Non-Surgical and Surgical Options

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is a condition that affects the jaw joint and the muscles responsible for its movement. In addition to surgical treatments, there are several non-surgical treatments available for TMJD.

If you’re experiencing TMJD symptoms, it’s important to talk to a doctor about your treatment options. Conservative treatments, like physical therapy, have a high success rate and are typically recommended first.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Pharmacotherapy

Medications can be used to manage pain and other symptoms. Keep in mind, that a specialist or general practitioner may recommend prescription medication. These included but are not limited to: over-the-counter pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen can also be used. Of course it is always most desirable to remedy this cause of the issues through physical therapy methods as opposed to pharmaceutical options.

TMJ Physical Therapy

A physical therapist can examine you to determine the root cause of your TMJD symptoms. They may also check your neck and shoulders for any issues that could be contributing to the problem. TMJ physical therapy exercises and other techniques may be prescribed to help manage your symptoms.

Nightguards and Splint Therapy

Custom-made by a dentist or oral surgeon, these devices are to be worn at night to prevent grinding or clenching of teeth, which exacerbates TMJD symptoms.

TMJ Injections

Joint injections with hyaluronic acid and muscle injections with Botox can help relieve pain and relax the jaw muscles.

There are many options for treating TMJ. More specifically for more severe cases there are also surgical treatments available for TMJD. However, surgery is generally only recommended if other treatments have failed.

Surgical Treatment Options

Arthrocentesis

This involves injecting needles into the jaw joint to remove tissue breakdown products and reduce inflammation.

TMJD Arthroscopy

This is a more invasive procedure that involves placing needles into the joint and using an arthroscope to look inside and perform surgical procedures to remove scar tissue, smooth out bone, or attempt to reposition the disc.

Arthrotomy (Open Joint Procedure)

This is a more invasive surgery that is performed under general anesthesia. Surgeons make an incision to remove adhesions, osteophytes, fibrous or bony ankylosis, and/or tumors.

Effective TMJ Treatment at Elite Therapy Clinics

If you’re experiencing TMJD symptoms, talk to a doctor about your treatment options. Physical therapy and other non-surgical treatments can be highly effective in managing TMJD symptoms, and surgical options are available if needed. Physical therapy, in many cases is highly effective in the treatment of many TMJD cases both acute and chronic. Check out our team of highly trained clinicians here at Elite Therapy Solutions.  Call 833-201-3455 to set up an initial evaluation. We can see patients within 24-48 hours, and we allot an hour of evaluation time. We pride ourselves in being on the cutting edge of TMJD treatment diagnosing and techniques to get you back to pain-free living!