TMJ Treatment Options

By Sally Ann Quirke, Chartered Physiotherapist | Filed under: TMJ Pain

Published: 06 December 2015

Treating TMJ

What is the most effective TMJ Treatment Remedy?

So, you have TMJ pain and you want to known what are the best TMJ Treatment Options?

To start with, there are two aspects involved in the treatment of TMJ disorders: Pain relief and mechanical correction.

1st step - find the cause.

You also need to understand what is the primary cause of your TMJ pain - this is the most important part of your treatment approach, as this will ensure the root of the TMJ disorder is being addressed from the early stages of rehabilitation. You can find out more about the structures affected by TMJ disorders in Signs Symptoms of TMJ.

A thorough assessment from your dentist and Physiotherapist should include a detailed history from you and a thorough physical examination, often requiring x-ray analysis also. This will reveal any significant causes for your TMJ disorder - for example previous facial trauma, previous treatment and it’s effects, length, duration and severity of your symptoms.

Particular attention should be given to your jaw habits - for example any clenching and grinding of your teeth, lip or cheek biting, or your lower jaw being too far forward when biting. All these findings strain the muscles involved in chewing and often contribute to your TMJ disorder.

Treating the cause.

Treatments of these findings are aimed at correcting poor postural habits of your neck, head and jaw. I use the Pilates technique for this part of treatment and adapt those exercises according to your needs.

I release tensioned muscles around the jaw and neck using both mobilisation techniques and soft tissue release techniques I have developed specifically for use in TMJ disorders.

Structural devices are sometimes required. Bracing is used the younger patients with developmental reasons for their TMJ disorders, however this can often be avoided with early mobilisation, TMJ exercises and motor re-training methods.

Night splints to avoid grinding are often used and although their efficacy is proven they can cause further harm if the grinding is not the primary problem or if the patient decides to fight the device subconsciously and bites harder!!