TMJ Treatment in Fairfield, CT

• Soreness in the temples, cheeks, and jaws
• Earaches or pain around the ears
• Facial pain
• Tightness in the jaws
• Clicking or popping sounds when eating, yawning, or opening the mouth
• Locking of the jaw
• Difficulty chewing

In order to provide the most effective TMJ disorder treatment, it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis. Because TMJ disorder can have three different underlying causes, we’ll conduct a thorough evaluation of your jaw and its function to determine why you’re suffering from TMJ pain and, from there, we can choose the best course of treatment. 

• Myofascial pain in the muscles that control jaw function. This type of TMJ disorder is usually associated with jaw clenching and teeth grinding and it is exacerbated by stress and anxiety.
• Internal derangement of the joint. This is an indicator of a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or an injury to the condyle.
• Arthritis. This is a degenerative inflammatory disorder that can occur throughout the body, including the jaw.

While mild TMJ symptoms can be treated with self-managed care, including eating a soft food diet and using ice packs to ease inflammation, when these do not work, there are a variety of nonsurgical treatments to help alleviate jaw pain. Anti-inflammatory medications, Botox injections, stabilization splits, or a combination of these therapies and self-managed care are effective treatment options for most cases. Rarely, surgical treatments like jaw joint replacements may be needed.

In many patients, TMJ pain comes and goes—it could be caused by a temporary injury or an unusual amount of stress. Still, it’s a good idea to get evaluated by a dentist if your TMJ pain lasts more than a few weeks or if the pain is severe. There are many simple, non-invasive options for treatment that can help you feel better quickly.

When chronic TMJ pain is not treated, it can lead to more serious issues like permanent joint damage, the wearing down or breakage of teeth, the development of obstructive sleep apnea, and an enlarged jaw. Many TMJ patients suffer from migraines and pain in the neck, shoulders, and face. The earlier you seek treatment for TMJ pain, the better your outcome will be.

Because the temporomandibular joint is located so close to the ear canal, it’s very common to experience TMJ disorder symptoms in and around the ears, including a feeling of fullness, tinnitus (ear ringing), imbalance, and earaches.

Stress is linked to TMJ disorders because it can cause the muscle tension in the jaw that leads to myofascial pain. Many people subconsciously clench their jaws or grind their teeth when they’re stressed, particularly when they’re asleep. This reaction to stress is one of the most common causes of TMD. Even if you can’t control the stress in your life, you can stop jaw clenching and teeth grinding with the aid of a stabilization splint.

Yes, not only can you fix TMJ without surgery, but non-invasive treatment options like stabilization splints and Botox injections are often more successful than drastic surgical treatments, with fewer of the risks.

Yes, Botox is injected into the facial muscles by Dr. Miller and patients begin to see relief in days. Botox will help with muscle pain, headaches, and teeth grinding. The effects of the Botox can last for 6 to 9 months.

We custom fit your smile with an appliance that will exercise the tight muscles daily so that the tension is released in the jaw, facial, head, and neck muscles. There are other exercises and physical therapy solutions as well.

The pain will increase or stay constant. Injury to the teeth will occur and you can dislocate your jaw.

Exercise for the jaw muscles is no different than the rest of your body. We need to exercise our muscles weekly to strengthen them in the proper areas.