Non-Surgical, Therapeutic Treatment for TMJ Disorder

Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD, can take a serious toll on your daily life with symptoms ranging from mild jaw pain and stiffness to severe headaches and difficulty eating. Drs. Martin Farnsworth and Derek Farnsworth offer personalized TMJ treatment at their offices in Mesa, AZ. After evaluating your condition, our doctors can provide a combination of oral appliance therapy and BOTOX® injections to alleviate pain and protect your smile.

What is TMJ Disorder?

According to the TMJ Association Ltd., approximately 12 percent of Americans, or 35 million people, suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder. Two of the most commonly used joints in the body, the temporomandibular joints connect your jaw to your skull. These joints act like a hinge and are used when you speak, chew, or yawn. TMJ disorder can result when joints become inflamed or damaged due to excessive wear, or when they become displaced. This disorder can also develop because of trauma, misalignment, or bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching).

If left untreated, TMD can have long-term effects that impact your quality of life, including:

  • Pain in the teeth, face, jaw, or neck
  • Stiffness in the jaw muscles
  • Limited movement or locking of the jaw 
  • Painful clicking when opening or closing the mouth
  • A change in the way upper and lower teeth align
  • Ear pain or popping
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing
  • Trouble breathing

Addressing your symptoms can preserve the structure of your smile and alleviate discomfort. 

Exploring Your Options

During your initial consultation, Dr. Farnsworth can assess the severity of your symptoms and check for swelling or irregularities. He can also provide you with a survey to complete at home. Your answers can help us accurately diagnose your condition and target the underlying cause. We aim to provide simple, conservative treatment before exploring more invasive options such as BOTOX injections or surgery.

Our Treatments

Although there is no cure for TMJ disorder, effective treatment can minimize pain and lower your risk of long-term complications.

Hard and Soft Guards

Our mouth guards are fabricated in a Medicare-certified laboratory that also produces our sleep apnea oral appliances. These custom-made devices fit over the upper and lower teeth and prevent teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

Although there is no cure for TMJ disorder, effective treatment can minimize pain and lower your risk of long-term complications.

A soft night guard is more flexible and more comfortable than a hard night guard, however it can wear down more quickly. This option is better suited to patients with mild to moderate bruxism. More severe cases of grinding and clenching may require a hard night guard. This device is composed of an acrylic-like material. Its harder composition makes this appliance more durable but also less malleable. 

night guard
A night guard can keep your jaws in proper alignment and protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear.

BOTOX Cosmetic Injections

We use BOTOX Cosmetic injections to minimize muscle movements that can trigger TMD. Patients who undergo BOTOX Cosmetic treatment for TMD can enjoy relief from their symptoms almost immediately after the procedure.

Invisalign

In some cases, TMD can be caused by crooked teeth, misaligned teeth, or gaps in your smile. If this is the case, we may be able to alleviate your symptoms with Invisalign® treatment. Invisalign gradually straightens your teeth and is suitable for most cases of misalignment.

Surgical Intervention

While we will always attempt to correct your issues with non-invasive treatment, surgery may be the best way to address severe TMD. Should this be the case, our doctors can refer you to a specialist and coordinate your treatment.

Call Our Office 

The National Center for Biotechnology Information found that proper diagnosis can lead to successful treatment for most patients suffering from TMJ disorder. If you are have headaches in the morning or pain and stiffness in your jaw, you may benefit from TMD treatment. Call our office at (480) 283-5854 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

Las Sendas Dental Health logo

Las Sendas Dental Health

Our family-friendly practice provides general, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments in a comfortable environment. Our dentists are affiliated with prestigious organizations, including:

  • American Dental Association
  • Arizona Dental Association

To schedule an appointment at our dental office serving Mesa, AZ, you can contact us online or call (480) 283-5854.

Contact Us Today

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