TMJ/TMD Treatment in Asheville, NC

Jaw clicking, soreness, or tension can compromise your comfort and keep you from chewing with natural ease. This pain often stems from TMJ/TMD, a jaw disorder that can be treated with a variety of minimally invasive, tailored treatments. Find relief with solutions from your orthodontist today.

Why Should I Get TMJ/TMD Treatment?

TMJ/TMD treatment is the best way to improve your oral range of motion, reduce your pain, and get you back to your day-to-day routine. The pain and discomfort of TMJ/TMD can be extreme, and it can stop you from eating your favorite foods, chewing normally, or even speaking without pain and discomfort. Jaw issues like TMJ/TMD often won’t get better on their own, and may even get worse over time. If you’re having jaw pain, that’s not normal. Contact us for a consultation right away. We'll evaluate the potential causes of your pain and discuss the options to get you on your way to feeling better

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We’re committed to making care affordable and accessible. Our team is here to help you finance TMJ/TMD treatment in a way that fits your lifestyle and budget.

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The Benefits of TMJ/TMD Treatment

Relieve Your Pain And Discomfort

TMJ/TMD causes serious, chronic jaw pain that can interfere with your ability to work, focus on school, and live your day-to-day life. With proper treatment at our office, you can get your life back to normal.

Improve Oral Range Of Motion

TMJ/TMD can make your jaw “lock” or stiffen. This makes it hard to open and close your mouth properly, which could interfere with biting, eating, and even speaking. Treating TMJ/TMD can improve your oral range of motion.

Treat Other Related Problems

TMJ/TMD is related to lots of other problems including tinnitus (ringing of the ears), chronic headaches, neck and upper back stiffness, and more. With proper treatment from a qualified orthodontist, you can get improvement from a variety of TMJ/TMD symptoms.

Goop-Free Impressions

Using our state-of-the-art 3Shape Scanner, your orthodontist can capture a 3D model of your mouth in just 3 minutes or less. This fully digital process means that messy putty is now a thing of the past!

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A Team of Specialists

We work with a network of local providers and specialists to help treat and diagnose patients with TMJ disorder. Rest assured, we are looking at a comprehensive look at your jaw to help you get the relief you need.

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Durable Nightguards

If you grind or clench your teeth at night, your doctor can prescribe a custom-made acrylic guard to keep your jaw in a more relaxed position. Nightguards are long-lasting and require little maintenance, making them one of the most reliable TMJ/TMD treatments.

Get Relief With Botox

Botox injections can ease jaw tension by relaxing the muscles you use for chewing. This helps decrease clenching and gives your joints a much needed break.

Low Level Laser Therapy

Low level laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment used for TMJ that involves the application of laser light to the jaw muscles. This therapy increases blood flow and reduces inflammation, which can help alleviate the pain and discomfort from TMJ/TMD symptoms.

The TMJ/TMD Treatment Process

Initial Consultation & Diagnosis

TMJ/TMD is often caused by more than one thing, from jaw overuse (like excessive gum chewing or teeth grinding) to direct trauma to the joint, and even some auto-immune problems like arthritis in the joint. So, the first step is to come to our office for an appointment. Your doctor will perform a comprehensive oral exam, discuss your symptoms, and determine what could be contributing to your TMJ.

Developing Your Treatment Plan

Once your orthodontist has determined potential causes, they will work with you to develop a custom treatment plan. This could include things like Botox injections, a night guard appliance to help with grinding and clenching during sleep, and even things like orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners.

Lifestyle Changes & Physical Therapy

Along with TMJ/TMD treatment from your orthodontist, certain lifestyle changes and at-home physical therapy can help improve your oral range of motion and the symptoms of TMJ/TMD. For example, you can choose to eat softer foods for several weeks to help your jaw heal, or you may need to do some jaw exercises to help with your recovery. Your orthodontist will discuss these topics with you in detail as they develop your treatment plan.

Did you know?

The prevalence of TMJ/TMD is between 5% and 12% in adults. That means it's the second most common type of musculoskeletal pain, behind only lower back pain.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.

What are TMD symptoms?

The symptoms of TMD vary quite a bit depending on the patient. You may experience issues like:

Pain and stiffness

Migraine headaches

Clicking or popping noises when moving your jaw

Difficulty opening your jaws all the way

Pain when chewing or eating

If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend coming in for a consultation to get help.

What causes TMD?

TMD and TMJ pain is caused by a variety of different issues:

Direct trauma to the temporomandibular joint

Bite and jaw issues

Bruxism or teeth grinding

Lifestyle issues, such as excessive gum chewing

Inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, like arthritis

Because TMD and TMJ pain can be caused by multiple things, it’s important to see an experienced orthodontist when seeking care.

Can TMD go away on its own?

Some cases of mild TMD may go away on their own with lifestyle changes, such as ceasing gum chewing, de-stressing to eliminate teeth clenching, and more. However, if you suffer from the symptoms of TMD for more than a week or two, your condition may be chronic. To learn more about your specific case of TMD, it’s best to seek a qualified, experienced orthodontist to get the help you need.

How can I treat TMJ pain on my own?

Applying hot compresses to the area at 10 minute intervals several times a day can help relax the muscles and ease some TMJ symptoms.

It’s also a good idea to take steps to decrease jaw clenching, such as exercising and de-stressing to reduce the likelihood of nighttime teeth grinding. You may also want to consider ceasing gum chewing, and eating a diet of mostly soft foods to minimize the work your jaw muscles must do while they heal.

You can also use over-the-counter NSAIDS like ibuprofen to help control pain and inflammation.

While some cases of TMD are minor and can be resolved with these simple steps, you should consider seeking help if you experience serious pain and discomfort, or if your symptoms persist for 1-2 weeks or longer.

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