Temporomandibular joint therapy

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a complex of symptoms that affect the mandibular joints and associated muscles, often manifested as joint pain, popping, limited mouth opening, and difficulty chewing. Early diagnosis and multi-faceted treatment can help relieve symptoms, restore function, and improve quality of life.

There are many causes of temporomandibular joint diseases, the most common of which are malocclusion, bruxism, and long-term poor head and neck posture. Many people may experience: temporomandibular joint paresthesia, habitual temporomandibular joint dislocation, difficulty opening and closing the jaw, or even long-term migraines, shoulder and neck pain, or even dizziness and tinnitus.

 

Treatment goals

• Relieve pain: Reduce discomfort in joints and chewing muscles.

• Restore range of motion: Increase mouth opening, lateral movement, and anterior translation.

• Strengthens supporting tissues: Improves temporomandibular muscle coordination and joint stability.

• Improve living habits: correct improper chewing, posture and emotional stress.

 

Conservative treatment

1. Self-care: Eat soft food, avoid opening your mouth widely, and use hot or cold compresses to relieve pain.

2. Behavioral modifications: Changing habits such as clenching your teeth, yawning, or chewing gum.

3. Occlusal splint: Wear a hard guard at night to reduce bruxism and joint load.

 

Physical therapy intervention

• Manual mobilisation: joint mobilization and temporomandibular myofascial release.

• Exercise therapy: mouth stretching, lateral transfer exercises, and isometric contraction exercises.

 

Medication and injection therapy

• Oral medications: painkillers, muscle relaxants.

• Local injections: hyaluronic acid or steroid injections to reduce joint inflammation; botulinum toxin injections to relax overly tense muscles.

 

Surgery and interventional therapy

• Joint cavity irrigation: Fluid accumulation in the joint is flushed and medication is injected.

• Arthroscopic treatment: minimally invasive repair of diseased tissue under the microscope.

• Open surgery: Suitable for cases with severe bone lesions or joint degeneration.

 

Long-term maintenance and tracking

• Regular follow-up visits: monitor joint function and treatment efficacy.

• Comprehensive management: Combining dentistry, physical therapy , psychological relaxation and posture adjustment to create a comprehensive temporomandibular joint care plan.

 

Kidsmile Dental has the oral surgeon from En Chu Kong Hospital to provide a complete range of temporomandibular joint treatment services through personalised, multidisciplinary treatment strategies to help you get rid of temporomandibular joint problems and restore normal chewing and a comfortable life.