Who Should Treat TMJ Pain?

If you’re experiencing TMJ pain, you know how debilitating it can be. The discomfort and pain in your jaw can make everyday activities challenging. No matter how severe your pain is, finding the right treatment plan is essential. And it’s important to know who should treat TMJ pain. There are several different doctors who can treat TMJ pain. The right one for you will depend on your situation. 

TMJ disorders are complex. So, you may need a team of doctors working together to provide the best treatment options for you. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the different doctors who can treat TMJ pain. We’ll focus on the different roles that primary care physicians, orthodontists, physical therapists, and oral surgeons play in treating TMJ pain. We’ll also discuss how they can work collaboratively to provide the most effective treatment.

Who Treats TMJ Pain?

There are several different doctors who can treat TMJ pain, including

• Primary care physician
• Orthodontist
• Physical therapist
• Oral surgeon 

They each have a different focus and area of expertise. In order to get the best treatment you’ll need to consider your unique needs. Let’s discuss how each of these doctors treats TMJ pain

Primary Care Physician

The first step if you’re experiencing TMJ pain is to go see your primary care physician. If you see them on a regular basis, they already know a lot about your medical history. This gives them a good foundation for an accurate diagnosis. 

Your primary care physician will get the ball rolling by diagnosing your TMJ pain. They’ll start by feeling your jaw for pain points. Then, they’ll ask you to open and close your mouth while they listen for any clicking or popping sounds. Depending on the severity of your pain, they may also request X-rays or a CT scan. 

Once they have a better idea of what’s going on with your jaw joint they’ll recommend treatment options. Most patients with mild TMJ pain find relief with home remedies. Home remedies for TMJ pain include

• Resting the jaw joint
• Ice/heat therapy
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication

If home remedies don’t work or your pain is too severe, your doctor will refer you to a specialist who can treat TMJ pain. This will likely be an orthodontist, oral surgeon, or even a physical therapist. No matter what other medical experts you see, however, you should always keep your doctor in the loop. 

Orthodontists

Orthodontists can treat TMJ pain as well. They’re usually brought in to help treat TMJ disorders caused by misalignment or a bad bite. 

Your jaw joint, muscles, and teeth are designed to work together. If your teeth aren’t coming together well it becomes harder to chew. Your jaw has to work harder to eat. Over time your jaw joint becomes worn, leading to a TMJ disorder. Misalignment pushes your teeth out of their natural position. This can lead to grinding and clenching, which can also cause your joint to break down.

An orthodontist can treat TMJ pain by first examining your jaw joint. If you’ve been referred to them by another doctor they’ll take any previous notes into account. They can then develop a treatment plan that fits your needs. This treatment plan may involve braces or TMJ mouthguards. Braces help fix any issues with your bite. And mouthguards act in a similar way as a knee brace by supporting the joint while you sleep. 

As we’ve already noted, it’s important that your orthodontist is communicating with your regular doctor. This is especially important if your doctor referred you. They may need to get outside help where necessary. 

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists are another type of doctor who can treat TMJ disorders. They play an important role in cases where your TMJ pain is caused by tension in the muscles around your joint. A physical therapist can also improve the movement of your jaw.

They’ll use a variety of techniques to treat your jaw joint pain. Massage and joint mobilization are common ways to improve your range of motion. Other treatments include ice/heat therapy and electrical stimulation. Your physical therapist will also recommend exercises you can do at home to relieve pain. 

Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon

Oral/maxillofacial surgeons are dental specialists who specialize in surgical treatments of the mouth, jaw, and face. They can provide more specialized and advanced treatment for TMJ disorders. They’re particularly helpful in cases where conservative measures have failed or the disorder is more severe. 

Oral surgeons can treat TMJ pain primarily through several different procedures:

• Arthroscopy
• Arthrocentesis
• Open joint surgery

Since these treatments are more invasive you should talk everything over with your oral surgeon and regular doctor. You should only consider these options if you have severe pain or if more conservative options have failed.   

Who Should Treat TMJ Pain?

Now that we’ve looked at who can treat TMJ pain, let’s take a look at who should treat it. The right doctor for you depends on your situation. We recommend starting with your regular doctor. They can help you determine if you need another doctor who’s more experienced with the complexities of the jaw joint. 

Ultimately, the best way to treat TMJ pain is with teamwork. Each of these medical professionals can treat TMJ pain effectively. But the best results come when they work together. As you look for doctors who can treat TMJ pain, try to keep everyone on the same page. Make sure the orthodontist or oral surgeon communicates with your regular doctor. Tell your physical therapist what your primary care physician told you in previous appointments. By taking this collaborative approach you ensure you’re addressing each aspect of your TMJ pain.