TMJ/TMD Therapy – Northampton, MA • East Longmeadow, MA
Put a Stop to Chronic Jaw & Head Pain
If you place your fingertips below both ears and open your mouth, you’ll feel something moving underneath the skin. These are your TMJ (temporomandibular joints), and they have the essential responsibility of connecting the lower jaw to the skull. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to speak clearly or chew your favorite foods. Like any other part of the body, the TMJ can unfortunately suffer from dysfunction or strain over time, which often results in significant or even debilitating pain for a patient.
At EMA Dental, our team of highly-trained dentists and specialists are very familiar with the difficulties of TMJ disorder (TMD), and we want to help you get back to smiling without having to worry about constant facial discomfort. Effective therapy options are available to restore harmony to your jaw and overall oral health. Please contact either our East Longmeadow or Northampton, MA location today to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose EMA Dental for TMJ/TMD Therapy?
- Able to Determine the Source of TMJ Pain
- 100% Custom-Made Oral Appliances
- Can Help with Nighttime Teeth Grinding
Diagnosis & Treatment
TMJ disorder is a complex condition, and no two cases are exactly the same. However, there are some reoccurring symptoms that patients should be aware of, including:
- Constant discomfort located in the jaw, face, head, neck, and/or shoulders
- Excessive clicking and locking sounds from the jaw joints
- Having trouble opening your jaw fully or chewing food
- Regularly experiencing pain that feels like an earache
Our team can provide an in-depth evaluation of your current TMJ health and recommend possible treatment options as needed, including occlusal (bite) adjustments and occlusal splints.
Equilibration/ Occlusal Adjustments
Your specific case of TMJ disorder may be caused by an uneven or misaligned bite, causing undue pressure to negatively affect certain areas of your smile. In these circumstances, our dentists will recommend an occlusal adjustment, during which we will carefully adjust the surfaces of affected teeth in order to distribute your biting force more evenly. This service may result in ideal improvements alone, or our team may pair it with a custom-made occlusal splint.
Occlusal Splints
Occlusal splints are personalized appliances that we design with your one-of-a-kind smile in mind. When worn, the splint will comfortably readjust the resting position of your lower jaw, reducing chronic pain and also preventing bruxism (habitual teeth grinding) if that is one of the causes behind your TMJ disorder. For some patients, the consistent use of this device could result in permanent improvements!
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can TMJ be cured permanently?
The pain caused by TMJ disorder may subside on its own over time, but it’s best to seek help from the skilled oral health professionals at EMA Dental if your symptoms are severe enough to affect your daily life. While there are a variety of methods offering temporary relief available, our office provides treatments that can deliver lasting relief by addressing the root causes of TMJ imbalances. For example, we can provide a patient with an occlusal splint that will help bring their jaw joints into better alignment. In some cases we can reshape a patient’s teeth with occlusal adjustments or equilibration to reduce the strain caused during the chewing process.
Is TMJ treatment safe?
TMJ treatments performed by a qualified professional such as one of the team members at EMA Dental are completely safe. It’s typically best to address the problem with the least invasive and most conservative method available, and we’ll thoroughly examine your mouth and jaws to determine the best way to restore your comfort. Occlusal splints are noninvasive devices designed to be worn over the teeth during sleep, and they work by helping to guide the jaw joints into healthier alignments. Equilibration/occlusal adjustments, on the other hand, permanently reshape the teeth to reduce jaw strain and deliver lasting relief.
How long does TMJ treatment take?
Performing certain jaw exercises at home can immediately provide temporary relief for TMJ pain, but achieving long-term results usually requires treatment from a qualified professional such as a staff member at EMA Dental. We offer a variety of treatments that can address TMJ pain in different timeframes, and the severity of your problem can also influence how long it takes to resolve. After evaluating the health of your mouth and jaw, our dentist may recommend treatments like:
- Invisalign: This modern orthodontic treatment may reduce jaw strain by bringing the teeth into better alignment in six to eighteen months.
- Occlusal splints: These devices are designed to be worn during sleep for a few weeks to several months. The patient can expect to achieve increasing relief as they continue to wear their appliance, and this treatment can potentially resolve TMJ issues for life.
- Equilibration/occlusal splints: Adjusting the shapes of the teeth so they fit together better and chew more efficiently can reduce the stress the jaw joints experience during the chewing process. Most patients experience significant relief briefly after the procedure, and the treatment may help your jaw remain comfortable for life.