What is the Treatment Procedure for TMJ & TMD?

This ailment results from issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), connecting the jaw to the human skull's temporal bones. It enables the movement of the jaw needed to talk or chew. When TMD ensues, the person finds it difficult and painful to do simple talking, yawning, and chewing, making everyday life hard. It can get treated by visiting the emergency dentist when the symptoms appear.

The dentists believe that the primary cause of TMD is the issues with jaw muscles or the dental joints. Many times, any accident or injury to the head or neck muscles and joints can cause TMD. Many people who suffer from teeth grinding can get TMD; even arthritis can propagate this ailment. At times, stress can lead to TMD as it often results in the tightening of the muscles in the face or jaw and clenching of the teeth.

• Pain in the face, jaw, shoulder, or neck while yawning, chewing, speaking
• Pain while opening the mouth
• The sensation of the jaw being locked or stuck while opening or closing the mouth
• Sounds such as popping, clicking, or the feeling of the grating in the jaw
• Face feeling tired
• Swelling on the face
• Headache and dizziness with hearing issues

Based on the level of severity of TMD, the emergency doctor can perform the following treatments to ease the pain and discomfort –

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) – Also known as TENS, this therapy is performed using the electric currents of a low charge to ease pain through muscles' relaxation in the jaw and face.
• Deep Heat Application – It is used to treat or provide relief from the joint's pain and soreness.
• Trigger-Point Injections – The affected muscles are injected with pain medicine and anesthesia for relief.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy – A procedure to manage the pain, swelling in the joints or muscles to ease the movement of the mouth
• Radio Wave Therapy – This therapy is used for joint stimulation to increase blood flow to soothe the pain.
• Surgery – It is usually the last option if other treatments are ineffective. Surgery is also of various types – Arthrocentesis, Arthroscopy, and Open-Joint Surgery – performed in emergency dental care depending on the individual's severity of TMD.

Get TMD Treated by the Emergency Dentist

If you have any of the TMD symptoms, contact Emergency Dental Service to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist open 24 hours. To know more, call 1-888-350-1340 to locate an emergency dentist near you.