The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) plays a critical role in mouth opening and closing. As a result, if you experience clicking and pain in your jaw, headache, or neck pain, it may be a sign of a TMJ problem. Several individuals with TMJ complications report mild or periodic symptoms that can deteriorate with time if untreated. Are you a candidate experiencing these symptoms and looking for help? Totowa TMJ treatment might be the way out. The following are some of the common treatment options to address the problem.
Medications
Medications are crucial options your healthcare provider can recommend. For instance, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can effectively lower inflammation and pain from TMJ disorders. Some NSAIDs drugs you can use include Mobic, Feldene, and Naproxen. Alternatively, you may use sedative drugs such as benzodiazepines to treat anxiety and short-term relief of TMJ symptoms.
Injections
Your healthcare provider can provide injections into your jaw, effectively relieving temporary TMJ symptoms. Injections are minimally invasive as they take 30 minutes and comprise no recovery time. Some injections, like corticosteroid injections, are critical in reducing inflammation and pain in the TMJ and decreasing pain in your chronic jaw. Alternatively, you can choose Botox because it also treats various symptoms.
Bite Correction
Sometimes home remedies may not be the best and most effective solution to TMJ complications. Therefore, you should turn to customized dental splints as they have been proven to avoid tooth grinding, maintain teeth alignment, and minimize general clenching. Bite guards are integral in addressing mild TMJ symptoms, and the risks in the long term are minimal. Depending on the nature of the severity of the teeth grinding, a bruxism guard may be designed, either soft or hard plastic, to offer a cushion.
Arthrocentesis and Arthroscopy
If corticosteroid injections and Botox are unsuccessful, your healthcare can prescribe a different treatment option. In this case, arthrocentesis and arthroscopy are effective options. The arthroscopy procedure is used in the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ. Your specialist inserts a tiny fiber-optic camera in your joint, allowing him or her to examine the exact root cause of symptoms. Arthrocentesis is used by orthopedic surgeons in the diagnosis process, where the surgeon inserts a small needle and syringe to drain fluid from the joint.
Maxillofacial or Orthodontia Surgery
Your orthopedic surgeons can detect structural disorders in your joint through an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. These disorders, in turn, need treatment through the intra-oral appliance, maxillofacial, or orthodontia surgery. However, you should only turn to surgery if only other conservative options have not worked.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy, particularly low-level, has been proven to be an effective treatment option for myofascial pain in your face and jaw. It comprises a laser for soft tissues of the face and jaw and stimulates cell metabolism. Increasing cell metabolism means you have healthy cells that function more efficiently. Also, the therapy is crucial in reducing swelling because of fluid retention (edema).
TMJ disorders are undesirable because they can affect your daily activities as you spend some time looking for treatments. If you are tired of receiving below-par services from various healthcare centers, look no further because Bogota Dental Center in Totowa, New Jersey, might be the solution. The center offers comprehensive intervention measures and treatment for TMJ disorders preventing your symptoms from worsening. Request an appointment by calling a nearby office or book online today.