TMJ Treatment Tailored To You
If you have TMJ, you know how painful the condition can be. The expert dentists at Belle Meade Smile Center can help you find the right treatment for this disorder.
There are many factors that can cause this condition, so we will personalize your treatment in order to produce the best results for you.
What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) have to do with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
This small, sliding hinge-like joint is located on either side of your jaw and it gets a great deal of use—whenever we speak, bite, chew, yawn, or even just open our mouths slightly, the TMJ is hard at work. Over time, disorders can develop in the TMJ, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
Types of TMD
There are three main types of TMD:
- Arthritis, a degenerative inflammatory disorder.
- Internal derangement of the joint, generally a displaced disc or dislocated jaw.
- Myofascial pain, which refers to pain in the muscles that operate the TMJ.
Injections to Treat TMD
The first step to treating TMD is to diagnose the underlying cause of your TMJ pain at Belle Meade Smile Center. Mild cases of TMD can be treated with home care, including ice packs and soft food diets during symptom flare-ups.
For more severe TMD, anti-inflammatory medication, stabilization splints, or injections can offer relief.
If overactive jaw muscles are causing your TMJ pain, therapeutic injections at Belle Meade Smile Center can be particularly helpful. Injections paralyze the problem muscles, causing the inflammation surrounding the joint to subside and giving you relief from jaw tension.
In combination with gentle TMJ physical therapy and other rehab programs, injections have helped many Nashville patients find long-lasting relief from their TMJ issues.
Injections for TMJ can even improve your facial appearance by relaxing your overworked muscles for a softer, less tense jaw.