standard-title TMD Treatment Options

TMD Treatment Options

Once diagnosis has been made, Dr. Sara Vizcarra will create an individualized treatment plan for your TMD in Scottsdale. Since the severity of TMD will vary from person to person, there are a few treatment options available. Some of the available treatment options for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) in North Scottsdale include:

Oral Appliance Therapy – Oral appliance therapy is a very helpful and successful technique in treating Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD). These devices are extremely popular due to the simplicity and comfort of the appliance.

Splints – Another popular option for TMD treatment is a splint. Splints are put in place and prevent the upper and lower teeth from touching. These are typically worn at night to avoid any teeth clenching or grinding which would result in pain the next morning. Wearing these splints will enable your jaw muscles and joints to relax and heal, relieving you from any pain.

Trigger Point Injections: This form of therapy breaks up knots, or trigger points, in order to provide relief from muscle fatigue, strain, injury and overuse, including grinding or clenching. Trigger points can remain dormant and not produce any symptoms, but once they become active, they are capable of producing intense muscle pain. Trigger point injections help to reduce pain and provide relaxation for the muscle groups. In order for trigger point injections to be successful, it is important to utilize a series of injections. Learn More >

Prolotherapy: This is a nonsurgical treatment that stimulates healing. Prolotherapy is short for “proliferation therapy” and is also known as regenerative injection therapy. It works by stimulating the body’s own natural healing mechanisms to repair the injured musculoskeletal tissue. Learn More >

Cold Laser Therapy: The cold laser produces a beam of light, which is applied over the injured area to stimulate healing. There is no pain with cold laser therapy. When a living tissue absorbs the light, it triggers biological reactions in the cells producing chemical substances. This is then released and carried by blood and lymphatic flow to other parts of the system.

Physical Therapy: With physical therapy for TMD, the focus is on relaxation, stretching, and releasing tight muscles and scar tissue. Physical therapy is also an important part of recovery from TMJ surgery because it helps to minimize scar tissue formation and muscle tightness.

Therapeutic Botox: The use of Botox for an alternative treatment for TMD and associated jaw tension and pain helps to improve your symptoms. When injected into facial muscles, Botox helps to relieve TMJ tension for many patients. The injections often eliminate headaches resulting from teeth grinding, as well as the minimization of lockjaw. Learn more >

Medication – For less severe cases, over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs would work just as well. The most typical medicine prescribed for TMD is muscle relaxants due to their ability to help loosen tight muscles. This is especially popular for those who grind or clench their teeth. With any situation, it is important to speak with your doctor about which direction is best for you.

up4405packs

mashed-potatoes

gelb

Contact Dr. Sara of AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions for more information on TMD and available treatment options in North Scottsdale.