Med147 Med Connect Pro

Discover cutting-edge medical solutions

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Treatment

Symptoms can be relieved by lowering stress levels, doing physical therapy, eating soft foods and not biting down on hard or sticky items, using mouth guards or splints for teeth grinding, and taking anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants. In most cases, conservative remedies are recommended before resorting to more invasive tmj treatment.

Orthodontic Treatment

The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect the lower jaw to the skull on either side. They are complex joints that move in three dimensions and include a cushioning disk, large pairs of muscles and a joint surface. A variety of problems can affect these structures, ranging from teeth that fit poorly to an unbalanced bite to TMJ pain and difficulty opening and closing the mouth.

Many people with TMJ experience mild or periodic symptoms that improve over time with simple self-care practices like reducing stress levels, eating soft foods and wearing a mouth guard at night to reduce teeth grinding (bruxism). Other treatment options may be necessary for some individuals.

Botox Injections

While most people are familiar with botox injections for cosmetic purposes, such as reducing crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles, it can also treat TMJ pain and jaw muscle tension. This treatment uses the neurotoxin botulinum toxin to weaken and relax the muscles in your face.

Specifically, it is injected into the masseter muscle in your jaw and can help relieve TMJ symptoms by eliminating involuntary clenching of your teeth or jaw during sleep or stress. Combined with other treatments, such as mouth orthodontics or “no gum” diets, this treatment can bring quick relief and long-lasting results. Treatment sessions last approximately three to six months.

Steroid Injections

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the lower jaw to the skull and have a disc to help it move smoothly. When this joint becomes swollen or inflamed, it can cause pain in the chewing muscles and area around the ear (pre-auricular area). This type of pain is often described as pressure or achy.

A steroid injection directly into the TMJ can improve symptoms by reducing inflammation. This helps reduce the strain on the muscles and tissue, allowing the joint to heal itself.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are a minimally invasive treatment option that can help reduce pain and improve your quality of life. The process involves drawing a small sample of blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting them into the affected area.

The concentrated platelets release growth factors that stimulate the multiplication of reparative cells in the damaged tissue. This significantly enhances the body’s natural healing processes.

PRP also promotes neuroregulation. Its growth factors can interfere with the transmission of pain signals to the brain, reducing nerve sensitization and resulting in improved pain reduction [4].

Stem Cell Injections

TMJ symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors, including malocclusion, clenching or grinding teeth, and chronic stress. Treating these underlying issues may help to reduce TMJ pain and aggravated symptoms.

However, if these conservative methods don’t improve your symptoms, Dr. Verma may recommend stem cell injections to promote healing and reduce the inflammation of injured soft tissue or bone. While these stem cell procedures are still experimental, they show promise for easing TMJ discomfort and pain. They are also safe and effective for promoting healing after orthopedic surgery, such as shoulder surgery or knee replacement.

Dental Implants

TMD can cause pain during chewing, yawning and talking, catching or locking of the jaw, and stiffness. A reduction of symptoms is the primary goal of treatment, which can include over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, are sometimes used in low doses for pain relief and to help control bruxism (teeth grinding). Physical therapy, including ice packs, moist heat and exercise, may help improve symptoms. Surgery is rarely recommended but may be necessary for severe cases. A procedure called arthroscopy can remove scar-like tissue and reposition the jaw joint disc and has been shown to relieve TMD pain in some studies.