TMJ Treatment
Overview
The Temporomandibular Joints connect the jaw to the skull to open and close the mouth in a sliding hinge motion. TMJD refers to a disorder of the temporomandibular joint. Below are the causes, symptoms and TMJ treatment options.

Causes
- Mouth breathing
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
- TMJ pain
- Thumb/Finger sucking
- Nail-biting
- A routine habit of resting with the lips apart
Symptoms can include:
- Pain of different qualities, frequencies, and severity
- Inability or difficulty opening the mouth
- Pain, difficulty, or discomfort chewing
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sensations in the joint
- Jaw ‘locking’, making it hard to open and close the mouth
- Headache and muscular tension
- An uneven or uncomfortable bite
- Ear ringing, popping, or stuffiness

Treatment
There are many different successful approaches to treat TMJD, all dependent on an individual patient’s needs. At Dexter Dental Studio, we offer the following treatments for TMJD:
- Botox
- Supplements
- Custom Bite Splints
Supplements
We offer a specific blend of nutritional supplements from Standard Process, a supplement company focused on quality formulations. These specialized supplements support bone and joint health. Supplements are dependent upon the specific symptoms and causes of TMJD and communication with a primary care physician is encouraged if additional supplements and prescriptions are in use.
Custom Bite Splints
Custom bite splints are available using our photo scanner (no more messy molds!) and 3-D printer. The 3-D printer allows us to provide the bite splint without the additional wait time of a third-party lab!

Botox
Our office offers Botox as a treatment for muscular tension contributing to TMJD. Muscular dysfunction around the TMJ can contribute to dysfunction of the joint, increasing tension headaches
Botox blocks nerve signals that cause muscle movement and reduces or eliminates facial pain by allowing the muscles to stay relaxed. Results can be felt 3-5 days post-treatment and can last for approximately 3 months.
This treatment can assist in re-educating muscles. After 2-3 treatments, for many patients, the muscles do not retain the old tension patterns that contributed to clenching and grinding.

Payment Options
We provide a variety of individualized health packages to meet your budget and needs.
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