More about TMJ Treatments

Patients who need TMD treatment need to know that there are a variety of oral facial pain treatments available.

Medication Therapy:

Pharmaceuticals are used to control inflammation. They are also used to induce muscle relaxation and of course to eliminate pain. The obvious way to obtain this kind of treatment is to swallow medications.

Physical Medicine:

There are other ways to get medication to where it is needed. One method is iontophoresis. Instead of swallowing a pill, medication is placed over the tender area and a low voltage electrical impulse drives the medication into the area. A similar method is phonophoresis. Medication is placed over the tender spot and ultra sound is used to send the medication to the stressed area.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is a technique used to stimulate the body to produce pain relieving endorphins and also inducing local healing. Several sequential appointments are required. The procedure is virtually painless.

Low Voltage Electronics:

An electronic device directs a pulsating current to the effected area.

Trigger Point Injections:

Numbing medication is placed into injured, cramped, disfunctional muscles to help restore them to health and function. A dry needling procedure is used concurrently and is an important part of trigger point injections.

Appliance Therapy

Intraoral orthotics are used to reposition the jaw, stabalize the jaw and to create a healing enviornment enabling tissue of the TMJ joint to heal. A great deal of time is spent in adjusting the orthotic, so as to unload the pressure on the jaw joints, especially for those who brux vigorously at night.

Home Exercise Programs

Information will be given to patients to help them do home exercise programs intended to strengthen weakened muscles and to stretch muscles which haven't been used often enough.