According to data collected by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an estimated five to 12 percent of the population suffers from TMJ dysfunction and muscle disorder. Your TMJ, or temporomandibular joints, play an important role in your everyday life by allowing you to easily and comfortably open and close your mouth. If they aren’t working properly, it could result in a variety of painful symptoms that can take a toll on your health and life. To learn more about this condition, read below and contact our dental office for a consultation to discuss TMJ therapy in Burien, WA if you’re experiencing any symptoms.
Without proper treatment, TMJ dysfunction can become worse. That’s why we recommend that any patients who are experiencing symptoms of this disorder visit us for a thorough examination. Some problems that you may experience if you have TMJ dysfunction include:
An equilibration or occlusal adjustment is a minor, non-invasive procedure that allows us to evenly distribute the force of your bite along your entire jawbone and arch of teeth. This keeps one area of your mouth from sustaining additional strain and force that can cause TMJ dysfunction. To do this, we’ll take an impression of your teeth to find any areas of your bite that come together prematurely. Then, we’ll adjust and buff-out these areas to create a more even bite so it doesn’t trigger pain, tension, or discomfort when you chew or use your mouth.
Another way that we’re able to relieve TMJ pain is by creating customized orthotic devices called occlusal splints that patients can wear at night while they sleep. Your splint will be specially designed to shift the alignment of your jaw into a more natural position to relieve tension. Over time, your jaw will naturally stay in this corrected position, providing you with lasting comfort.
Rest assured, TMJ can be treated without surgery. The National Institutes of Health even recommends that patients use conservative methods for their treatment.
The fact remains that surgery is a last resort for TMJ disorders. It involves permanent changes to your jaw and other anatomy, so dentists prefer to avoid it if possible. The better choice is to go with non-surgical options like equilibration and occlusal splints – treatments that aren’t very invasive. In some cases, a patient can even rely on at-home methods for TMJ relief.
A TMJ treatment’s timeline varies from patient to patient. Based on your situation and the treating dentist, it can be rather short or run for a long time. That means you should consult your dental provider to learn how long your own treatment would take.
For example, look at our own practice’s treatment options. Using clear aligners to fix your TMJ would (based on current averages) take about a year or so. On the other hand, an occlusal splint could bring lasting relief after a few weeks or months of wearing it. There’s also equilibration – a service that offers instant relief of TMJ symptoms in many cases.
When done by a qualified professional, TMJ treatment is very safe. It shouldn’t cause harm to your jaw or mouth, let alone the rest of your body.
You see, treatments for TMJ disorder tend to be conservative and non-invasive. They only make slight adjustments to your jaw, so the risks of side effects stay low. The result is that services like occlusal splints and equilibration have been proven highly safe. Since they’re non-surgical and don’t make major changes, they almost never lead to complications.
As a matter of fact, yes – TMJ disorders can be permanently cured. You just need to see a professional for the proper treatment methods. While TMJ pain can often fade on its own, the best way to prevent a relapse is to see a qualified dentist.
Dentists often have several ways to permanently address TMJ issues. For instance, occlusal splints shift your jaw’s alignment to relieve tension over time. Equilibration also slightly “buffs out” your teeth so your bite doesn’t trigger pain. With either method, treatment addresses your TMJ’s underlying cause and brings lasting relief.
