TMJ Treatment – Austin, TX
Stop Jaw Pain with Effective TMJ Treatment
At Magnolia Family Dentistry, we never want our patients to have to live with everyday pain that impacts their overall quality of life. If you’re experiencing jaw fatigue, discomfort while chewing, or teeth grinding that causes your jaw to click and pop every time you open your mouth, then you’ll be relieved to know that we can help. Dr. Burton offers customized occlusal splints and equilibration to restore harmony to your bite and relieve tension on your jaw joints. If you believe you could benefit from the treatments outlined below, please give our office a call so we can help!
Why Choose Magnolia Family Dentistry for TMJ Treatment?
- No Insurance? Sign Up for Our In-House Membership Plan
- Advanced Jaw Imaging with Our Cone Beam Scanner
- Kind & Skilled Dentist with 10+ Years of Experience
What is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ disorder is a condition that affects the function of your temporomandibular joints (TMJ). These joints connect your lower and upper jaw to each other, allowing you to effortlessly open and close your mouth when they operate smoothly. The joints are also surrounded by crucial muscles in the head and neck areas, which is why TMJ disorder often leads to pain in the upper shoulders and neck. When these joints sustain too much tension, physical trauma, or force due to grinding your teeth, they can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms that impact your daily life and oral function.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
Depending on the severity of your condition, as well as the underlying causes, patients can experience different symptoms that still lead to the same diagnosis. Some of the most common signs of TMJ disorder include:
- Clicking and popping in the jaw joint area whenever you open or close your mouth.
- Pain in the jaw joint area and surrounding facial muscles.
- Limited jaw mobility and jaw fatigue while chewing.
- Discomfort or pain while chewing food.
- Grinding and clenching the teeth, also referred to as bruxism.
- Migraines and lingering headaches.
If you notice any of these, we encourage you to call our team to schedule an examination and diagnostic imaging.
Treatment Options for TMJ Disorder
Based on Dr. Burton’s findings during your TMJ evaluation, we may recommend either a customized occlusal splint or occlusal adjustment for treatment. The option that we advise you on will be based on what we believe is the underlying cause of your condition, or to help minimize further harm to your jaw joints and teeth.
Occlusal Splints
Occlusal splints are customized orthotic appliances that you sleep with in your mouth. They’re designed to shift your jaw into its ideal position to ease the pressure off of the joints. With regular use, occlusal splints are able to provide you with much-needed relief from your symptoms and even protect against teeth grinding.
Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment
Occlusal adjustment, also called equilibration, is typically recommended when past dental work, like a dental crown or bridge, was improperly fitted and has caused strain on your jaw joints by creating an imbalanced bite. This process involves altering the restoration to bring harmony to your bite and take added tension off of one or both temporomandibular joints.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can TMJ Disorder Be Cured Permanently?
In many cases, jaw pain will disappear on its own. However, it’s best to contact our office if your TMJ pain persists for a long time, interferes with your daily life, or becomes severe. At Magnolia Family Dentistry of Austin, we offer effective TMJ treatments that can deliver long-lasting results such as occlusal splints that are worn to help shift the jaw into a healthier position and equilibration or occlusal adjustment treatments that fix the shapes of teeth and restorations to make the bite more balanced. These methods can address the underlying causes of TMJ disorder to deliver lasting relief.
How Long Does It Take for an Occlusal Splint to Work?
Occlusal splints are usually designed to be worn when the patient is sleeping, and they work by adjusting the way the jaw is held at rest. You may notice the symptoms of your TMJ disorder fading soon after you begin the treatment, but they will not vanish all at once. Over time, your temporomandibular joints will adjust to their healthier new positions, bringing lasting relief. You may notice remarkable improvement after about six weeks, but it usually takes between three and six months for the TMJ disorder to be resolved. However, some patients may experience longer or shorter treatment times than this depending on the severity of their problem.
How Long Does Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment Take to Treat TMJ Disorder?
How quickly equilibration or occlusal adjustment can bring relief to TMJ disorder depends on the severity of the case and what changes need to be made. However, most patients experience relief soon after their teeth become more well-aligned. The process usually takes only one, two, or three appointments, during which our dentist will make the necessary modifications to the teeth so the biting force can be redistributed more evenly. These sessions are typically fairly brief, which can make them convenient for patients on tight schedules.
Can TMJ Disorder be Treated without Surgery?
It’s perfectly possible to effectively treat TMJ disorder without surgery, and the National Institutes of Health recommend using the most conservative methods available when treating the issue. Addressing TMJ disorder with surgery is only recommended as a last resort since it involves making permanent alterations of the jaw and its surrounding anatomy, so it’s usually best to treat the problem with less invasive methods. TMJ issues can often be addressed by reducing daily stress or through professional treatments such as occlusal splints, equilibration, or occlusal adjustments.