What is TMJ Treatment?

What is TMJ Treatment?
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in your jaw connect your lower jaw and skull together.
Located close to the front of each ear, your TMJ joints allow you to chew and swallow your food
as well as open your mouth to speak, yawn, sneeze, and other everyday functions. If you are
experiencing chronic pain in this area, you may have developed TMJ disorder. Typical causes of
this painful dental problem include:
Arthritis in your jaw joints
You injured your jaw or the bones supporting it due to an accident
You deal with unrelenting stress and frequently clench your jaw because of it
The disc that normally holds the joints and sockets together has slipped out of place
Regardless of how you developed TMJ disorder, it’s important to seek treatment from All Star
Dental as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment makes it possible to reverse the
condition so you can live without pain.
How to Determine if You Have TMJ Disorder
Some patients suffer longer than necessary because they don’t realize that there is a medical
reason for their jaw pain. Even if you don’t have TMJ disorder, it’s important to come in right
away if you notice any of these symptoms:
Unusual facial swelling
Speaking and chewing leaves you feeling fatigued
You experience difficulty when chewing because the teeth from the top and bottom
jaws don’t fit together normally
You hear popping or clicking sounds when opening your mouth
Pain in the jaw joints, neck, face, or shoulders and pain near your ears when opening
your mouth
TMJ Treatment Options
After receiving a diagnosis of TMJ, you’re likely to ask “What is TMJ Treatment?” Dr. Moshena
Ahmad uses several different approaches to help eliminate your pain and return your jaws to
normal functioning. Unless you have a severe case of TMJ disorder, she begins with the most
conservative approach possible. The first step in treating TMJ disorder is to wear a night guard
every night or a splint for several hours each day. Both of these dental devices prevent teeth
grinding because they don’t allow the upper and lower rows of teeth to touch one another.
Certain home remedies may also be appropriate. Dr. Ahmad may advise you to apply an ice
pack at regular intervals and use a non-prescription form of pain relief when you experience a
painful flare-up. You should also avoid chewing hard foods as this may aggravate your jaw pain.

If these solutions fail to work, Dr. Ahmad will speak to you about more aggressive treatment
options.