TMJ Treatment in Oak Lawn, Chicago & Northwest Indiana

TMJ Symptoms

TMJ disorder symptoms include:

• Jaw pain or tenderness
• Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints (the joints connecting your lower jaw to your skull)
• Earache
• Pain or discomfort while chewing
• Aching facial pain
• Jaw locking so that you cannot open or close your mouth
• Headache
• Neck pain
• Eye pain
• Tooth pain accompanied by jaw tenderness
• Clicking sound or grinding sensation when you chew

If symptoms don’t resolve within a few days or weeks, or if they are severe, seek treatment.

Diagnosing Jaw Joint Disorders

If you are struggling with TMJ disorder pain, you are not alone. 

Between 5% and 12% of the adult population has some form of TMJ dysfunction. The condition is twice as common in women and mostly affects people between the ages of 20 and 40.

If you suspect you might have a TMJ disorder, your dentist or healthcare provider will examine your jaw and check its range of motion. They’ll ask you about pain and other TMJ disorder symptoms. A dental X-ray will be done to evaluate your teeth and jaw, and your doctor may order a CT scan or MRI as well.  

At OMHNA, we can obtain a definitive diagnosis using TMJ arthroscopy, which involves inserting a tiny camera into the temporomandibular joint for an up-close visual of the area. If we do confirm that you have a TMJ disorder, the good news is—it’s treatable.

Non-Surgical vs. Surgical TMJ Treatment

Sometimes TMJ disorders resolve on their own without treatment. But if your symptoms don’t go away within a few days or weeks, treatments are available. AT OMHNA, our TMJ experts always begin with conservative jaw pain treatments to see if your TMJ disorder can be addressed without reconstructive or orthognathic surgery. These may include medications, therapies, dental splints, and stress management.

Nonsurgical Treatment for TMJ Disorder

• Medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)  can help relieve TMJ pain. If over-the-counter pain relievers aren’t enough, your doctor can prescribe prescription-strength options. If there is a muscular component, muscle relaxants can be effective. Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants have also been found to help alleviate TMJ pain and symptoms.
• Therapies. Physical therapy for the jaw may include exercises to stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles. TENS nerve stimulation, heat, or ice therapy can also help. Your doctor may also assist you in identifying behaviors that contribute to jaw pain, including teeth clenching or grinding, leaning on your chin, or biting your fingernails. 
• Dental Splint. Many patients find relief when combining medication and therapies with the use of a dental splint—a removable dental appliance that stabilizes the teeth and jaw and protects teeth from grinding.
• Injections. Corticosteroid or BOTOX injections have been shown to help with TMJ disorder symptoms.
• Stress management. Since TMJ pain is closely tied to stress, patients can help reduce pain by practicing deep breathing techniques, meditation, or mindfulness.