TMJ Devices

TMJ Appliances & Treatment NYC

We use a variety of intraoral devices to treat TMJ and, occasionally, to reposition the jaw on a temporary basis. Most of these appliances are held in place by gently but snugly sitting on your teeth. Dental Partners of Fifth Avenue have multiple solutions for TMJ devices & treatment in NYC.

• Splints are U-shaped pieces of plastic that fit over the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. Their main purpose is to keep your jaw from closing completely, thereby relaxing fatigued chewing muscles, discouraging you from clenching or grinding your teeth and reducing pressure on your jaw joints.
• Flat plane splints, also known as “stabilization appliances” or “permissive appliances,” work by freeing up the jaws to deprogram them, take the pressure off the jaw joint, and relax the jaw muscles.
• Repositioning appliances or “directive appliances” direct your jaw into a predetermined position. In our office, we use these appliances only for patients with certain kinds of TMJ disorders, and generally on a short-term basis only.

All appliances are available in a variety of designs that cover all or some of your teeth and can be made on the upper or lower teeth as well as in various thicknesses. We will select the appliance that’s best suited to your specific diagnosis and your existing dentition.

Benefits of TMJ Devices & Treatment

A TMJ oral appliance can often dramatically help facial pain. With a TMJ appliance you’ll often feel a significant reduction in pressure on the jaw joint, neck and face muscles. TMJ devices also work to prevent grinding and clenching of teeth, especially if worn at night to avoid bruxism. Since a lot of patients’ TMJ pain stems from bruxism, an overnight TMJ device may leave you with less jaw pain throughout the day.

TMJ Causes

TMJ can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms overlap with other outstanding health issues. You are more susceptible to TMJ based on the following:

Chronic pain: You suffer from other forms of chronic pain like neck and back pain.

Depression and/or anxiety: Those with depression and anxiety are more likely to have TMJ. People with depression and anxiety tend to clench and grind their teeth more than non-depressed/anxious people.

Poor posture: If you constantly find yourself slouching, you could be straining your neck, back and jaw muscles which leads to TMJ pain.

Psychological distress: Some patients feel physical pain when they experience psychological distress. This is also known as somatization which can increase TMJ symptoms.

Genetics: Genetics play a part in more health conditions than you’d think. Patients with a higher predisposition to inflammation and stress and more likely to feel symptoms of TMJ.

Can TMJ go away?

Yes, TMJ can go away on its own. However, one third or more of TMJ pain do not go away within 6 or more months.

It is best to see your dentist if you feel you have TMJ symptoms because the pain may lead to other health problems in the future. Untreated TMJ symptoms can also worsen over time, making them harder to treat.

Untreated TMJ may lead to dental degradation, an uneven bite, chipped or cracked teeth, migraines and a stiff or inflexible jaw. It’s important to visit your dentist and treat TMJ symptoms head-on.