5 Non-Surgical TMD Treatments
TMD affects millions of adults, often causing painful symptoms that decrease quality of life. People living with TMD have difficulty eating and sleeping, they may miss work because of migraines or other debilitating pain, and their mental health can suffer as well. Thankfully, there are treatments for TMD that relieve the pain and restore jaw function. At Center for TMJ and Sleep Solutions NW, we offer a number of non-surgical TMD treatment options for our patients.
Therapy Without Surgery
After a thorough examination and diagnosis, one of our board-certified doctors will create a comprehensive treatment plan to address the patient’s symptoms and the underlying cause of their TMJ disorder. Some of the treatment options we have at our disposal are:
Splint Therapy – Splint therapy involves wearing an orthotic over the teeth, usually at night, to stabilize, decompress, and de-load the jaw joint. The doctor will periodically adjust the splint based on the patient’s treatment needs and to promote jaw healing. Each splint is custom made for the patient to ensure proper treatment of their TMJ disorder and to fit their lifestyle.
Orthopedic splints are not the same as nightguards or biteguards. A nightguard or biteguard will only protect teeth from damage if the patient grinds their teeth or clenches their jaw. It will not help with TMD. In fact, an ill-fitting dental guard can further damage the joint and change a patient’s bite irreparably. We advise avoiding store-bought nightguards, mouthguards, and biteguards for this reason. Instead, seek professional diagnosis and treatment from a board-certified doctor or dentist.
I-PRF regenerative injections – Injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) uses the patient’s blood to promote healing. We take a small amount of blood from the patient and process it with a centrifuge to separate the platelets and growth factors — the components in blood that heal. We then inject these healing components into the affected TMJ to trigger the body’s natural healing response, stimulating cartilage and bone regeneration, restoring lost joint mobility, relieving pain, and reducing inflammation. I-PRF injections are safe, 100% natural, hypoallergenic, and require no recovery time.
Prolotherapy injections – This natural, minimally invasive technique strengthens ligaments and tendons by assisting the body’s natural healing process and stimulating the repair of these tissues. For this treatment, we inject dextrose directly into the ligament or tendon to trigger a healing response and relieve pain.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) – PBM, or cold laser therapy, relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing and tissue repair processes. At Center for TMJ Solutions, we use the Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Class IV laser. PBM is completely painless and requires no downtime.
Botox® injections – We use Botox as a supplementary treatment for muscle pain caused by jaw clenching. Botox allows tense jaw muscles to relax, which reduces stress on the TMJ. While Botox alone is not a permanent solution, it is a great complement to splint therapy and other treatments.
TMD treatments vary based on the patient’s needs. Our expert doctors are highly trained to administer all of our therapies safely and effectively. If you’re suffering with jaw pain, jaw locking, persistent headaches, shoulder and neck pain, earaches, ringing in the ears, tingling in your fingers, or unexplained bouts of dizziness, you may have a TMJ disorder. Contact any of our offices, located in Silverdale, Federal Way, and Bellevue, WA, to request a consultation with a TMJ doctor. We’re here to help you find permanent relief!
