What Are the Nonsurgical Treatments for TMJ?
Nonsurgical treatment options for TMJ disorders are conservative and based on the unique requirements of every patient. Nonsurgical treatments may involve general processes that don’t require lengthy recovery time, familiar with TMJ surgery.
If you are still determining where to turn if jaw pain or TMJ symptoms are affected, you might wonder whether you need surgery to fix TMJ pain or can find nonsurgical therapies. Fortunately, suppose you seek TMJ treatment near you from a specialist in orofacial pain, an emerging field accepted by the American Dental Association as a new dental specialty. In that case, you will succeed in overcoming this problem.
Presently you can seek the help of an orofacial pain specialist if you experience jaw pain for nonsurgical options. This article answers some questions you have to offer hope that you can avoid surgery. Unfortunately, surgery may become a requirement in some cases when pain specialists and physical therapists are not involved early.
Does TMJ Generally Require Surgery?
In many cases, the discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and relieved using self-managed care and nonsurgical treatments. As the TMJ joint has muscles and tissues like other body parts, the treatments are similar to treating an inflamed muscle or joint. Relaxation is recommended by TMJ treatment in Houston as a measure to manage TMJ disorders.
If nonsurgical therapies, medications, and lifestyle changes relieve TMJ pain, the treatment provider might not consider surgery. Surgical options are often the last resort for persistent cases and do not guarantee a cure. You must let the Houston provider know your conservative treatments are providing relief or your symptoms are worsening. Your provider might suggest TMJ surgery to replace or repair part of the jow to treat TMJ issues. However, a trained orofacial pain specialist can help resolve TMJ concerns earlier without considering surgical options. The provider aims to eliminate or reduce TMJ pain to help you regain normal TMJ function. They believe the initial treatment for TMJ disorders is better with non-invasive and conservative therapies instead of surgical ones.
You will undergo a diagnosis to determine the presence of a hidden TMJ issue. The provider looks to avoid surgical options because they are expensive and invasive, making them unnecessary, considering alternative treatment options as their first approach. They think of pain as a helpful clue because if the pain is left untreated, it can aggravate a severe condition.
Nonsurgical TMJ Treatments Explained
If your TMJ disorder is related to misalignment of your jaw, the Houston Heights dentist suggests orthodontic treatment like jaw splints, braces, or a TMJ retainer. In addition, the Houston specialist might recommend physical therapy for the jaw area with specific self-care exercises. Treatment from the dentist helps realign your smile to give you a comfortable bite which might help address the symptoms. The specialist might also recommend an orthotic appliance to help correct your bite. Many patients report relief from the treatments provided by dentists and orthotics.
Physical Therapy for TMJ Disorders
When seeking relief from TMJ disorders, you can have a confusing time and spend considerable money if you don’t receive the right advice. Physical therapy for TMJ disorders is inexpensive and effective if you are dealing with this problem. Physical therapy goes beyond having an ultrasound of your jaw or self-help exercises. Physical therapists with training and specializing in treating TMJ disorders can achieve better results. They have a broad range of techniques, from manual therapy, manipulation, postural retraining, soft tissue mobilization techniques, and guided relaxation to help with TMJ disorders.
You might also receive removable occlusal surfaces to assist in the relationship between your mandible to the maxilla. In addition, the device might help diagnose TMJ disorders or treatment. The specialist achieves the goal by restoring the vertical aspect of occlusion, masticatory muscle relaxation, TMJ repositioning, et cetera.
The hard or soft acrylic resin helps make oral appliances, and the specialist might suggest it to help with muscle relaxation or reduce its activity. Monitoring of the splint that helps relax the elevator muscles provide stabilization or redistributes occlusal forces to ensure pain levels subside. The devices might also help with bruxism if it is causing the TMJ disorder. Therefore instead of considering surgery for jaw pain, you find it beneficial to examine the contact between your teeth for the muscles to identify TMJ triggers.
If affected by TMJ disorders, there is no reason to consider surgery as the first option to deal with the pain. Instead, The Dentist at 650 Heights suggests nonsurgical treatments that are effective and help manage TMJ pain to provide relief. Consulting this practice will help you deal with your situation appropriately.