Unbiased oral health information

Diagnoses

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Common treatment options

In most dental situations, you have the time to evaluate your treatment choices. No treatment is always an option, but may not be in your best interest. If you elect to be treated, there is often more than one way to proceed. Common treatment options for this diagnosis are listed on this page.

Treatment for early inflammation of the TMJs may simply involve avoidance of hard, sticky foods, avoidance of full mouth opening, and taking anti-inflammatory medication until symptoms resolve.

If symptoms appear more chronic, the dentist may recommend the use of an occlusal guard. Sometimes adjusting the way the patient's teeth fit together by grinding on the teeth (called "occlusal adjustment") can produce a more even distribution of forces on the teeth and jaw joints, and bringing the front teeth into function may reduce jaw muscle forces.

If malocclusion is suspected as a contributing factor, orthodontic treatment may be indicated. Sometimes placing composite resin "Stops" on the biting surfaces of the teeth can be performed as a diagnostic aid to see if orthodontic treatment would help. These can function in the same way as an occlusal guard would, only they are not intended to be removable by the patient.

If TMD has arisen following the loss of posterior (back) teeth, replacing the teeth may be recommended. Options for this may include dentures, fixed bridges, and dental implants or combinations of these treatments. Dental rehabilitation involves rebuilding all of the teeth with crowns, onlays, bridges, dentures and/or dental implants, in order to establish a normal functional relationship of the teeth, jaws and jaw muscles.

If dental treatment is unsuccessful at treating TMD, relief can sometimes be obtained with massage therapy or chiropractic treatments. Severe internal derangements of the jaw joints may require surgical intervention.

More information on dental procedures

Crowns
Dental procedure image: Crowns
A crown is a type of tooth restoration that covers all or a substantial portion of a badly broken down or decayed tooth...
Dental implants
Dental procedure image: Implants
Dental implants may be thought of as replacement tooth roots, and are among the most significant advancements in the history of dentistry...
Equilibration
Dental procedure image: Occlusal adjustments
Equilibration involves adjusting the way teeth fit together, such that when the jaws are closed together, the forces on the teeth are approximately equal...
Fixed partial dentures
Dental procedure image: Bridges (fixed partial dentures)
A fixed partial denture ("bridge") is a type of dental restoration that is permanently placed in the mouth to replace one or more missing teeth...
Occlusal guards
Dental procedure image: Occlusal guards (night guards)
Occlusal guards are worn over the biting surfaces of either the upper or lower teeth and evenly distribute bite forces to protect the teeth and the temporomandibular joints from stresses...
Onlays
Dental procedure image: Onlays
An onlay is a type of cusp-covering dental restoration that is made in a laboratory or by a computer controlled milling machine from either ceramic, composite resin, gold, titanium or other metals...
Orthodontics
Dental procedure image: Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that specializes in proper alignment of the teeth, jaws and facial bones...
Removable dentures
Dental procedure image: Removable dentures
Removable dentures (sometimes referred to as "false teeth" or "plates") are versatile in their ability to replace any number of missing teeth and to fill out the contours of the face and lips...