While some cases of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) only last a couple of days, more serious ones can go on for years.
Chronic TMJ pain doesn't just affect the jaw. It also impacts other areas of the face and neck.
That's why getting the
newest treatment for TMJ
should be a top priority!
Here, we'll discuss:
- What neuromuscular dentistry is
- How experts find the causes of TMJ
- What Dental TENSing is and why it's important
- The benefits of TENSing
Read on to learn the best TMJ therapy options available today.
The Basics of Neuromuscular Dentistry
"Neuromuscular dentistry" is a field of dentistry that's grown in recent years. It focuses on the wellness of your:
By approaching dental issues as conditions that affect all three of these body parts, promoting holistic wellness in your jaw and teeth becomes easier.
Neuromuscular dentistry involves a variety of treatment methods, including:
- Fixing misaligned teeth
- Re-aligning jaw muscles
- Repairing cracked and chipped teeth
- Finding natural ways to relax the jaw
- Creating personalized orthotic devices like retainers and mouthguards
- Implementing physical therapy to improve posture
Better
TMJ and TMD dentistry is a core goal of the neuromuscular dentistry field. Specialists use modern TMJ treatment advancements in orthotic devices and restorative dentistry technology whenever needed. This allows them to address any root cause of the TMJ you're struggling with.
Imaging and Screening Technology
There are several possible
causes of TMJ and tooth pain, including:
- Tooth grinding (known medically as bruxism)
- Misaligned jaws
- Teeth that don't fit together
- Injuries to the teeth and jaw
- Arthritis
- Infections
- Autoimmune disorders
It can be challenging to find the underlying cause of your TMJ without appropriate tools. Luckily, the most modern TMJ therapy options allow experts to find the root cause of TMJ via modern imaging technologies.
Standard X-rays are an important part of finding TMJ causes. Modern professionals also use other technologies to provide detailed and comprehensive views of the structures surrounding the temporomandibular joint. Some of these technologies include:
- 3D imaging
- CBC3-dimensional imaging
- Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
Using these can help experts diagnose the specific issue that you're struggling with. This allows for more targeted treatment plans tailored to your individual needs.
Dental TENSing: The Newest Treatment for TMJ
Recent advanced TMJ techniques go beyond imaging and diagnosis. They also extend to treatment, especially in the form of Dental TENSing.
The
newest treatment for TMJ, TENS, is a form of neuromuscular dentistry. TENS is an abbreviation for "transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation." This treatment relies on administering painless low-voltage electrical stimulation to your jaw and face muscles.
Professionals administering the TENS treatment first measure the patient's face and jaw muscle activity. They look for abnormalities and tense areas to determine what to treat.
Once that's done, the dentist will connect the patient to a TENS unit that includes:
- Leads
- Electrodes
- Low-voltage conductivity pads
Then, they'll deliver a small electrical impulse to the face and jaw muscles.
The current moves through the TENS unit and relaxes the muscles. A session lasts for around an hour.
Pain Relief
The main goal of TENSing is to relieve the pain associated with TMJ.
Some symptoms you'll get relief from may include:
- Pain in the TMD muscles
- Joint pain in your jaw
- TMJ-related headaches
- Dental pain from bruxism
- A misaligned bite
- Neck pain that stems from the jaw and face
- Jaw lock
- Joint clicking
- Joint popping
This can help you sleep better and relax while at home, too!
TENSing and TMJ Treatment Advancements
TMJ isn't usually a short-term issue. It can last for years without appropriate long-term treatment. Luckily, TENSing gives dentists the knowledge they need to create long-lasting TMJ relief for patients.
After the pain-relieving sessions, the doctor will assess activity in the jaw and face muscles. Then, they'll be able to find your most comfortable bite position.
Once they have that information,
they can create an orthotic device that best matches that position.
The device can train your bite to stay in this comfortable configuration, preventing pain from misaligned teeth and bruxism.
This takes proactive measures against future flare-ups.
Dental TENSing isn't just short-term pain relief. It provides the knowledge needed for experts to offer you long term relief.
The Benefits of Innovative TMJ Solutions
Dental TENSing has a wide range of advantages. It can relieve:
It also ensures that dentists have skull/jaw position-related information needed to create new dentures and similar devices. You'll get the best treatment available with custom-made devices that help align your unique bite and muscles. You won't need to worry about inappropriately-fitted devices that make TMJ worse.
Another advantage of Dental TENSing is how non-invasive it is.While the electrical pulses will make your jaw muscles twitch, the procedure is painless. After you experience the initial odd feeling of the stimulation, you'll be able to relax.
Afterward, you'll feel calmer and unknotted. The massaging of the jaw may make you sleepy and relaxed, which is a great way to get a good night's rest.
TENSing and At-Home Remedies
TENSing also increases the likelihood that at-home natural TMJ remedies will be more effective. If you have a TMJ pain flare-up, you can try:
- Gentle jaw exercises
- Meditation and stretching
- Exercises to improve posture
- Warm baths with natural salts and oils for aromatherapy
- Heating pads for your jaw
These methods will reduce pain more when your jaw is better aligned after TENSing treatment.
A combination of self-care and professional cutting-edge treatments can get rid of the hold that jaw and face pain have over your life so you can thrive as much as possible.
Get Long-Lasting TMJ Relief ASAP
Now that you know about the
newest treatment for TMJ, it's time to enlist the expert to come up with a treatment plan that is right for you. Dental Care Burke is committed to helping Virginia patients improve their dental health and live a pain-free life.
Dr. Lynch, our experienced doctor, is excited to use cutting-edge dental technology to alleviate patients' discomfort. Dr. Lynch can offer expert insight that you won't get anywhere else. He has obtained his LVI Fellow post-graduate elite distinction, which only 1% of dentists boast. So you can rest assured that you are receiving the best care possible at Dental Care Bruke.
Learn more about our Dental TENSing methods and schedule an appointment today.
