TMJ Treatments
in New York City & Manhattan, NY

A misaligned bite (over- or under-bite) may lead to TMJ disorders over time, in addition to a variety of orthodontic concerns.

A part of your first visit with a dentist should include an extensive TMJ exam to evaluate how the muscles and bones of the joint are functioning. You should always mention any tooth, mouth, or jaw pain to your dentist, who can help you find a relevant treatment plan.

If you wear a well-fitting, custom-made night guard to help with sleep apnea, jaw clenching, or another disorder, it should not make a TMJ disorder worse. An ill-fitting guard may lead to worsening symptoms.

If the pain associated with TMJ is caused by a muscular tension issue then massage is a great way to alleviate the tension in the muscles and reduce pain in the TMJ.

The TMJ is close to the ear apparatus and a poorly aligned jaw can cause pressure and inflammation on the balance organs in your inner ear, reducing their ability to function and causing balance issues such as vertigo.

Because the eustachian tubes are located close to the muscle and bones of the temporomandibular joint, inflammation in these tissues can affect them.

Pain caused by TMJ often manifests itself as a headache, toothache, or ear sounds. These are all caused by various nerve signaling pathways located in and near the TMJ.

Sometimes TMJ disorder can feel like sinus pressure or pain, but only rarely. Some patients have both issues at the same time, which causes an increased level of pain from both conditions and a difficult time differentiating the source of their discomfort.

Inflammation in the TMJ can cause blockage of the Eustachian tubes in the ear causing a clogged feeling.

Drinking water throughout the day will help your body stay hydrated, lubricate your joints and aid in the relaxation of the muscles in your jaw, helping to alleviate TMJ issues.

When issues with the TMJ are not addressed, very often pain only increases, and complications like loss of cartilage due to frequent rubbing or stress become more likely.

Some people experience TMJ pain in bursts, rather than chronically, but its rare that the condition goes away on its own without treatment or removing the source of the issue.

If you suffer from nighttime grinding or clenching, it is important to get a deprogrammer or night guard appliance fabricated by your dentist.

TMJ disorders have a variety of treatment options thanks to the development of new technology and research. Mouthguards, Botox, massage, and stress reduction treatments are all effective ways of relieving TMJ pain.

TMJ headaches are an acute flare-up of TMJ. Wearing an oral appliance, massage and anti-inflammatory medications can help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ headaches.

If you have an appliance, its crucial to wear it as soon as possible when a flare up occurs. Other recommendations to alleviate an acute TMJ flare up include eating a soft diet, taking an NSAID, TMJ massage and avoiding opening the jaws very wide.

TMJ can be managed and resolved but the duration and resolution depend on the source of the pain (muscle vs skeletal vs occlusal) and timely intervention and correction of occlusal disharmonies.

They function differently so which is better depends on the symptoms. Ice reduces swelling and pain and heat relaxes muscles, improving blood flow.

TMJ pain and an infected tooth can present with similar painful symptoms.nIt is important to see your dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment with a thorough clinical exam and radiology.

If there are anatomical issues that are causing TMJ then a surgeon can fix those issues and restore harmony.

TMJ can be quite debilitating and painful. If it effects your ability to work or function, it can be deemed a disability.

Arthritis in the joint can cause TMJ disorders and pain.

Flare ups can occur with no definite etiology but common causes include muscle spasm, eating difficult to eat foods (nuts, hard foods), opening your mouth too wide,, chewing gum, trauma, grinding and clenching.

Benzodiazepines, Skelaxin and Flexeril are excellent for relaxation of the muscles associated with TMJ pain.

The best treatment for TMJ is to see your dentist for a thorough exam and diagnosis of the etiology of disorder in the joint. TMJ pain has many possible causes so there is no one size fits all treatment. Treatment often involves a combination of deprogrammers, appliances, changes in bite, Botox and surgery.

You can see a general dentist but for more severe cases, there is a subspecialty of dentists who solely treat TMJ disorders.

Benzodiazepines and Flexeril are excellent for TMJ muscle relaxation.

After diagnosing the source of the TMJ problem, a dentist may recommend one or more of the following treatments: deprogrammers, oral appliances, bite changes (equilibration), Botox therapy, Muscle relaxer therapy, orthodontics and in some cases surgery to the jaws.

Unfortunately, untreated TMJ will only get worse and potentially cause shifts in the bite, fractured teeth, damage to muscles and bones in the head and jaw.

The TMJ is in very close proximity to the ear apparatus and any inflammation in the TMJ can refer pain to the ear.

The chronic form of TMJ is more serious than other forms. The concern with chronic TMJ is that it can damage the tendons, muscles, and cartilage over time.

X-rays have a limited role in evaluating TMJ. They can be used to evaluate the bony elements of TMJ, but do not give useful information regarding cartilage and adjacent soft tissues.

Some of the symptoms of TMJ disorder include jaw clicking and pain, headaches and migraines, jaw locking, and ear, sinus, and neck pain.

Patients should avoid chewy or hard foods including nuts, popcorn, chips, caramel, gummy candies, whole apples, etc.

It depends on what is causing the jaw pain. If swelling and inflammation is present, cold compresses will be more effective than heat However, if jaw pain stems from muscle stiffness or pain, heat is the better option.

Barometric or atmospheric pressure may affect people with TMJ. Many TMJ patients experience an increase in jaw discomfort during cold weather because the barometric pressures adds more tension to the joints.

The ears, nose, and throat are very closely connected, so aggravation of the jawline can lead to excessive mucus production.

In some cases, a dysfunctional temporomandibular joint can affect the temporalis muscles, leading to excess muscle tension that compresses the nerves connected to the eyes. This can lead to eye pain.