Orthodontic Treatment for TMJ

Orthodontics didn’t let this permanent TMJ happen when they set out to create Orthodontic Treatment. A TMJ Treatment plan is based on a patient’s personal medical treatment, how the patient can tolerate medicine, mouth appliances, and most of all any allergies to medical ingredients. Allergies can create a challenge. The orthodontist will check you over to see what’s causing your TMJ. Sometimes a malocclusion or incorrect bite can cause TMJ. Some cases of TMJ require braces to realign the teeth and keep the jaw bones in proper position. Braces are not the answer for everyone with TMJ. If your TMJ is caused by over-bites,under-bites, cross-bites, or jaw clenching, braces can help. Sometimes braces can cause TMD. Do braces help TMJ? It depends on your medical situation.

Beyond medicine, orthodontic treatment orthodontists offer mouth guards and cold compresses. Mouth guards reduce or eliminate teeth grinding at bedtime. The first step in treating TMJ is relieve the pain before treating the mandible jaw bone. A new treatment is creating mouth splints. The TMJ splints rest the jaws joints. Not all TMJ splints are created equal.

Another new treatment is to grow cartilage and implant it in the jaw to replace damaged tissue. Unfortunately, growing cartilage to treat TMJ is in the testing stages. Orthodontists sometimes rely on pain killers . Many new pain killers are tested and released to be sold over the counter and prescription medications. All medications should be used sparingly. Many orthodontists are trying mouth exercises out on some of their patients . Some of the popular mouth exercises include Tongue to Roof, Goldfish mouth exercises, Chin Tuck, and Side-to-Side Movement. Side-to-Side Movement involves using something one quarter of an inch between the teeth such as tongue depressors, Slowly move the jaw from side to side.

Prevention is the best way to get rid of TMJ. Avoid excessive gum chewing, biting pencils, biting pens, and pen caps. Do not rest your chin on your hand or cradle the phone between your jaw and shoulder. Be sure to chew with both sides of the mouth.