Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ) affects millions of people every year. Despite being so common, there are a lot of misunderstandings about TMJ, its symptoms, and how to treat it.
That is where Arbor Oaks Dental comes to the rescue. We’re Austin TMJ experts and have been helping people with it for many years. We decided to pool our knowledge and make this guide to everything you need to know about TMJ.
What You Should Know About TMJ Treatment
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
TMJ therapy is for patients who have experienced traumatic injuries. A car accident or a sports injury can mess up the alignment of your jawbone, leaving ruptures and malpositioning problems.
Besides that, this disorder is evident in some patients with bruxism issues. It is a situation where patients grind their teeth when they sleep. It can put pressure on your jawbone, causing complications in the TMJ site.
The bottom line, it is still unsure what precisely causes TMD. Some causes may include:
- Stress and anxiety as it forces face clenching.
- Overuse of jaw muscles like opening bootleg tops with their teeth, chewing hard foods, candies, and ice cubes, and biting fingernails have a likelihood of straining their jaw muscles.
- Poor sleeping conditions – this consists of both the sleeping positions and surfaces. Further, the position you take when you sleep can strain your head along the jawbone.
What Happens If You Don’t Get Treatment?
Severe TMJ can be harmful if left untreated. If you are in constant pain because of TMJ disorder, get it treated as soon as possible. Over time, untreated TMJ can result in uneven facial muscles, worn-down and broken teeth, hearing loss, and jaw issues. A quick visit with your oral surgeon is worth the price to avoid these potential problems.
What Are The Treatment Options For TMJ Disorders?
In 90% of cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders are temporary and can be eased with self-managed care or non-surgical treatments. These include medication or physical exercise.
Surgery is generally the last alternative after other measures have failed, although some people with TMJ conditions may benefit from surgical treatments. Non-invasive treatments include:
- Joint Rest—reducing jaw moves to within the range of mouth opening that is comfortable and keeps your upper and lower jaw teeth apart when at rest.
- A Soft-Food Diet—eating a softened diet that doesn’t worsen the pain.
- Medications to Relieve Jaw Pain and Relax Muscles—including muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or certain drugs used to treat depression.
- Heat or Cold Packs—relieve discomfort when applied directly to the site.
- TMJ Physiotherapy—including acupuncture, relaxation exercises, posture advancement, neck treatment, TMJ joint mobilization, TMJ exercise pattern, timing correction, and TMJ stabilization exercises.
- Wearing Occlusal Splint or Mouth guard—They can minimize jaw clenching or teeth grinding, particularly at night.
Jaw Surgery For TMJ Disorders
Surgery is performed by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in Austin, preferably one with surgical experience and skills in TMJ surgery.
TMJ surgery, including TMJ reconstruction surgery, may be advised to restore your TMJ disorder if you suffer from:
- TMJ locking—the incapacity to fully open or close your mouth.
- Persistent facial pain or TMJ dysfunction—despite having trialed non-surgical therapies for at least six months.
- Intense pain— Unbearable pain that medication can’t facilitate.
- Extreme difficulty eating or drinking—because of jaw pain or stiffness.
- TMJ collapse due to trauma—such as facial injuries after an accident.
TMJ Therapy In Austin
Jaw surgery becomes necessary when all the other non-surgical treatments show no positive effect. When your surgeon suggests you have jaw surgery to treat your TMJ disorder, make it happen as soon as possible. Look for an oral surgeon in Austin to restore your jaw. Contact us today to see a dentist for TMJ therapy in Austin.