What Is a TMJ Appliance

As anyone who is affected with persistent jaw pain and restricted range of motion can tell you, there is nothing funny, or fun, about having a TMJ disorder. This particular condition can be recognized by difficulties with or a malfunctioning Temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ attaches the jawbone to the skull. It is estimated that millions of Americans suffer from a symptom of their TMJ disorder daily. This TMJ condition can make speaking, eating - even yawning or laughing - an agonizing experience. For those who are struggling with TMJ problems, you may be searching for treatment choices. Some doctors and dentists that do not treat thousands of TMJ patients incorrectly recommend corrective surgery to repair the problem.  These surgical procedures are costly and risky, and TMJ surgery specifically has associated risk for facial paralysis due to the intricate position of the Temporomandibular joint. Yet other professionals recommend prescription painkillers to relieve pain - be aware that just about any drug, regardless of whether doctor prescribed or over-the-counter, have a danger of addiction and only gives temporary relief, at best. Still other professionals still erroneously advise that there is no treatment for TMJ. Often quoting the outdated opinion that this disorder is basically not curable and they counsel patients to follow a stringent routine of exercises and avoidance strategies. These treatment methods are, quite simply -- completely wrong. We have an approach to successfully and permanently treat your TMJ symptoms without having surgery or even prescription drugs.  That treatment?  TMJ appliances.

TMJ appliances function by gently correcting a misaligned jaw joint through the effective use of dental  appliances, instead of invasive surgical procedures. There are numerous types of TMJ appliances to use that alleviate pain while correcting the bite. The initial, as well as perhaps most frequently used,  appliance is a night mouth guard. These guards are made from soft, adaptable plastic and placed in the mouth before going to sleep. You take out the mouth guard each morning.  These kinds of appliances may work nicely for TMJ patients who are suffering from sporadic teeth grinding while sleeping, or who report stress, tension and/or anxiety as a primary aspect of their TMJ disorder. Mouth guards which are only used during the night can certainly help relax the jaw to stop the spontaneous clenching, and even shield teeth from the damage of the repeated grinding movements. If your TMJ symptoms  are severe, have been going on for a long time and/or persistent, you may need to use a more extensive type of TMJ appliance.  Only a TMJ dentist can advise you on the appropriate appliance, this is not a decision you can make without a professional TMJ dentist to assess your specific symptoms.

There are TMJ appliances (or devices) that are used 24/7, in an effort to reduce symptoms and actually correct the bite. These types of devices are known as orthotics.  The strategy of using orthotics is to not only treat but to cure the TMJ disorder.  The TMJ orthotics are typically called "splint therapy". In contrast to nighttime mouth guards, which can be bought over-the-counter at a drug store or pharmacy, orthotics are custom made from a mold of your teeth so that you can receive the ideal results. If you are curious about where you can begin splint therapy, start by calling a highly skilled neuromuscular dentist who has extensive experience in successfully treating TMJ problems. Dr. Eddie Siman of TMJBeverlyHills.com in Beverly Hills, CA. is a TMJ dentist who can expertly provide you with the TMJ appliance that can fix the cause and symptoms of your specific TMJ disorder. Dr. Siman is an innovator in the TMJ treatment field, and has successfully cured thousands of people of the painful TMJ symptoms without the need of surgery. Dr. Siman uses TMJ appliances extensively and full mouth reconstruction (if required) to permanently fix the bite and jaw alignment. Dr. Siman is a leader in treating Temporomandibular joint disorder. Call him today to begin your treatment.