TMJ Treatment

What Is TMJ?

TMJ stands for Temporo-Mandibular Joint, a hinge-like structure connecting the lower jaw with the skull. These joints are located on both rear sides of the face just in front of the ears. The primary function of these joints is to help with jaw movement when you eat or speak.

What is TMD Disorder?

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), or TMJ disorder, is a problem with TMJs or surrounding muscles and ligaments. This problem describes a variety of conditions, usually unpleasant, which affect the overall function and movement of the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles, that are associated with chewing. Generally, this jaw joint issue is ascribed to improper bite, trauma, arthritis, facial muscle problems, or poor sleep; nonetheless, a single cause cannot be solely attributed to its onset. 

Whatever the trigger point is, there is a customized treatment for TMJ disorders, tailored to an individual’s needs. 

What Are the Causes of TMJ?

There are multiple causes of TMJ, including injury to the jaw joints or other tissues in the surroundings, migraines, jaw pain, snoring, and sleep apnea. In some cases, the situation is alleviated on its own; however, in others, it persists, leaving the patient in an unpleasant situation for a long period. Other causes of TMJ include:

• Teeth grinding or clenching, also known as bruxism
• Arthritis
• Stress
• Displacement of the disc that lies between the socket joint and the ball
• Trauma to the joint
• Joint deterioration
• Bite issues

What Are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorders?

A TMJ disorder is symptomatic of the following issues:

•  Jaw deviation: When opening the mouth, the lower jaw may shift to one side instead of moving straight, due to jaw deviation.
• Restricted jaw movement: Some people experience restricted jaw movement, making it hard to fully open the mouth.
• Jaw clicking and popping: TMJ dysfunction due to joint misalignment or disc displacement within the temporomandibular joint due to jaw clicking and popping.
• Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), ear fullness, or dizziness can occur due to TMJ dysfunction’s impact on nearby structures.
• Chewing issues: Problem chewing foods due to pain in the joints and muscles around the jaw
• Pain or tenderness in the jaw.
• Facial pain
• TMJs become locked at times, making it difficult to move the lower jaw

TMJ Disorder Treatments  

In some cases, TMJ disorder symptoms may subside without medical intervention. However, if the symptoms persist, a dental visit becomes crucial. At Euromed Clinic Dubai, we offer a range of TMJ disorder treatments tailored to each patient’s needs.

Let’s take a closer look at the treatment options available:

1) Neuromuscular Orthotics (NMO)

Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on aligning the jaw, teeth, and muscles to achieve an optimal bite position using muscle relaxation techniques and EMG (electromyography) analysis.

During treatment, the TMJ specialist may recommend TMJ splints, mouthguards, or orthotic appliances to reposition the jaw into its most relaxed and functional state, helping to relieve pain and discomfort.

2) Gnatho-Neuromuscular Orthotics (GNM)

Gnatho-Neuromuscular (GNM) Orthotics is an advanced form of neuromuscular dentistry that goes beyond muscle relaxation to focus on skeletal structure and occlusion (bite alignment).

This treatment addresses airway issues, posture correction, and cranial balance, in addition to jaw realignment and muscle relaxation. Custom GNM orthotics are designed for long-term correction of jaw misalignment, rather than just temporary symptom relief.

3) Botox Injections for TMJ Disorder

Botox injections offer a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment for TMJ disorders. This outpatient procedure takes 10-30 minutes and you will need to get this treatment in at least three sessions over several months. 

The injections are administered into the forehead, jaw muscles, and temple, with additional areas treated depending on symptoms. After receiving the injections, you will feel some pain in the treated area. This pain usually resembles a prick or bug bite. You can use an ice pack or a numbing solution to ease the pain.

4) Orofacial Pain Relief

his therapy includes massage techniques for muscles, such as Focused Neuromuscular Functional Therapy (FNFT) and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), to relieve non-dental pain in the mouth, head, face, or neck.

5) Myofunctional Therapy

 Myofunctional therapy addresses the root cause of TMJ disorders while helping to establish correct tongue posture and swallowing patterns. This therapy strengthens the orofacial muscles and tongue and is often used alongside other TMJ treatments, such as GNeuromuscular Orthotics (GNM), to address sleep apnea, airway issues, and posture correction.

6) Tongue-Tie Release

The tongue-tie release procedure involves releasing the fascial restrictions that contribute to jaw misalignment and TMJ dysfunction.

By improving tongue mobility, this treatment reduces tension in the lower jaw, floor of the mouth, neck, face, and head, alleviating symptoms of TMJ disorder.

7) Airway Orthodontics

Airway orthodontics focuses on expanding the jaw and bringing it forward to create wider airways, thereby improving a patient’s overall well-being and quality of life.

What Are the Benefits of TMJ Treatment?

TMD treatments can help you relieve your problem without causing any significant side effects. Here is a list of some of the benefits of this treatment.

• Relaxed muscles around the jaw joint
• Decreased pain in the mouth and jaw
• Significant relief from teeth grinding, especially at night
• Reduced intensity and frequency of TMJ-related headaches
• Improved sleep quality

Are There Any Home Remedies to Alleviate the Pain in TMD?

Yes, you can try some simple home therapies and practice caution to reduce TMD symptoms. For example, you can eat soft foods, practice stress management, wear a mouthguard, limit jaw movements, and use hot or cold therapy to alleviate TMJ disorder symptoms.

How Can a Dentist Treat TMJ?

Dentists use multiple treatment methods, such as myofunctional therapy and orofacial pain relief exercise, to help reduce TMJ pain and other symptoms. They may give you a dental device to wear for a specific number of hours a day. They also perform different jaw alignment treatments to fix the TMJ disorder permanently.

Can TMJ Be Fixed Without Surgery?

Yes, several treatment methods are available to fix TMJ disorder without surgery. Examples of those methods include Botox and a medicated bite wear.

Can TMJ Cause Other Health Problems?

Yes, TMD can lead to several chronic health problems, including:

• Sleep disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety
• Irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive health problems
• Immune dysfunction
• Fibromyalgia
• Vertigo and sinusitis
• Cardiac arrhythmia

Consult an Expert

A TMJ disorder can cause discomfort and overall bite misalignment. However, this problem is treatable. At Euromed Clinic Dubai, we offer Botox-based TMJ treatment to relieve painful and irritating symptoms and help you improve your quality of life. For more information or to book a consultation, fill out the online form below.

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