What Are My Options for Treatment of TMJ Syndrome?
Do you frequently suffer from incapacitating headaches, neck pain, and jaw pain? Your issues may all stem from the small temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which controls how your mouth opens and closes.
The TMJ treatment Pittsburgh PA is underappreciated despite being the body’s most complicated and frequently used joint. Smooth jaw motions without effort or related pain are provided by a functioning TMJ, but occasionally things can go awry. TMJ problems can develop into chronic TMJ illnesses if left untreated, although only 25% of patients get help for their symptoms.
There are several TMJ treatment alternatives that can help you live pain-free; don’t let TMJ condition impact your life.
Continue reading to find out how to treat TMJ problems.
Conversion in Style
At some point in their life, 75% of Americans suffer TMJ symptoms, and frequently those symptoms go away on their own. But you can attempt a variety of at-home TMJ treatments to lessen your symptoms.
- Utilize over-the-counter drugs
- Exercise your jaw (these can be recommended by a dentist)
- Reduce stress and learn to relax by practising mindfulness.
- Consume soft foods.
- Do not yawn excessively.
- Don’t chew gum
Bite Recorder
Dentists begin recommending various TMJ treatment Pittsburgh PA alternatives when at-home therapies are ineffective. Customized dental splints have been shown to lessen general clenching, maintain the teeth in place, and stop tooth grinding.
The most frequently advocated remedy for mild TMJ symptoms is a bite guard. According to research, there is little chance of long-term ill effects from using splints to relieve TMJ symptoms. A bruxism (tooth grinding) mouthguard and a TMJ mouthguard are the two primary varieties of dental splint.
Injections
TMJ symptoms can sometimes be temporarily relieved by injections into the jaw. It is quick—less than 30 minutes—minimally intrusive, and there is no downtime.
Chronic jaw pain is lessened by corticosteroid injections, which also help to relieve any TMJ inflammation and pain. TMJ issues can also be treated with Botox. A neurotoxin called Botox paralyses the jaw muscles to stop clenching and relieve discomfort. The toxin’s paralysing effect can result in a momentary “fixed smile” as one of the few side effects of Botox.
Arthrocentesis and Arthroscopy
More extensive TMJ treatment alternatives won’t be advised until after the aforementioned therapies have failed. Even though arthrocentesis and arthroscopy are less invasive procedures, recuperation takes an average of one week.
An orthopaedic surgeon performs arthroscopy operations to help with the diagnosis of TMJ issues. A tiny fiber-optic camera is inserted into the joint as part of the procedure. In this manner, the surgeon can look into what specific joint problem is generating the symptoms.
