Temporo-mandibular Joint (TMJ) Treatment

The way your teeth come together when your jaws close down is known as a ‘bite’. When you chew or eat something and if your teeth don’t fit together properly, you could have a ‘bad bite’. This condition can signal issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the surrounding muscles in your face.

Do you suffer from the following?

• Burning or inflammation in the throat
• Difficulty in opening mouth
• Discomfort while chewing, eating, or swallowing
• Dry or hot mouth
• Ear pain, noises in-ear, loss of hearing, itching
• Facial pain including persistent jaw pain
• Headaches or migraines
• Jaw muscle pain or swollen muscles
• Jaw displacement or clicking jaw while opening the mouth
• Nasal obstruction, altered vision, burning sensation, or pain in the eyes
• Reduced neck and back mobility
• Clenching or grinding of teeth during sleep

The symptoms listed above refer to the temporomandibular joint disorder. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the lower jaw to the skull and helps in the jaw movements during chewing. When the joint is misaligned or overworked, it causes pain around the mouth and neck along with the aforementioned symptoms.

TMJ disorder is curable and can be treated through safe, nonsurgical treatment. However, putting off TMJ treatment can result in serious dental health complications such as fractured teeth, unsymmetrical muscle growth, and facial swelling among others.

Causes of TMJ Disorder:

There are several contributory factors that might be a cause of TMJ pain. Some of the common causes are:

• Genetic tendency
• Teeth grinding habit (also called Bruxism)
• Trauma to the joint from a whiplash, blow on the jaw, or head injury
• Birth/congenital trauma
• Thumb sucking habit
• Psychological factors, including anxiety, stress, or depression
• TMJ Arthritis, and
• Jaw abnormalities or missing teeth that can alter teeth position and jaw structure

Treatment for TMJ Disorder:

We, at American Hospital Dubai, have a team of dental-care professionals with expertise in the field of neuromuscular dentistry that focuses on the position of the jaw, teeth, and the tissues surrounding them. Given the multifactorial nature of TMD, our practitioners follow a management approach to treatment and have successfully treated thousands of patients diagnosed with TMJ disorder. Our comprehensive TMD Treatment options involve:

• Physical treatment for improved joint mobility and jaw positioning for a better bite. It may include thermotherapy, physiotherapy, and Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Drug treatment can include painkillers, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, etc.
• Psychological treatment, when causative factors are depression, stress, or anxiety
• Splint therapy includes a custom-made bite splint mouth guard
• Restorative treatment to stabilize a bite

Treatments are determined after a thorough examination of dental health and overall wellbeing during your consultation with the Dentist or TMJ Specialist.

Book an Appointment:

If you experience symptoms of TMJ disorder and are on the lookout for a trusted TMJ Specialist, we welcome you at the multi-specialty dental healthcare facility of American Hospital Dubai. Our dedicated facility for diagnosis and treatment of oral and dental issues is equipped with advanced technology and governed by the region’s top-rated dentists who boast a wealth of expertise in treating almost all sorts of dental issues.

To book a consultation with the TMJ Specialist at American Hospital Dubai for the treatment of TMJ disorder, please provide your details using the form appearing on the page. This will enable our Support Staff to get in touch with you and schedule your appointment.