If you suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Pain, you may wonder what options are available to you. Many people have pain in the TMJ area, which is where the two halves of the jaw connect on the sides of your face, usually beneath the ear. You must first go to your dentist to get a diagnosis. They examine your jaw and might feel the jaw joints as you open/close your mouth or listen to hear if there is any popping or clicking. They may also observe the range of motion in the jaw are and determine where the pain is.
If your dentist believes you to have and require TMJ pain & treatment in New York, they are likely to recommend dental x-rays, CT scans, or an MRI to determine the cause. Once they know for sure that it is TMJ disorder, they are likely to recommend a variety of treatments to help you feel better.
Treatments Available
In most cases, your dentist is likely to put you on medications first. These are designed to alleviate the pain associated with TMJ disorder. Options can include anti-inflammatory medicines and pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and tricyclic antidepressants. Many times, OTC pain relievers are enough to handle the pain. If not, you may get prescription-strength medications for a short time. Muscle relaxers can relax the joint areas and help them to heal while tricyclic antidepressants can be used for sleeplessness, pain relief, and bruxism control.
If medications don’t work, your dentist may recommend nondrug therapies, including oral splints/mouth guards, counseling, and physical therapy. Mouth guards are used at night when you are likely to clench your teeth without knowing it while physical therapy can include a variety of stretches and exercises to strengthen your jaw muscles so that you don’t have to overwork the jaw while eating or living life.
