TMJ and Dentists: Are Dental Devices a Cure for TMJ?

TMJ Dentists: Picture of Braces

Have you considered finding a dentist to help your eliminate your TMJ? Have you wondered if a dental device could cure your TMJ symptoms? Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) – sometimes called “TMJ” for short – are thought to occur because of problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that help move the jaw. Because of the jaw/pain connection people sometimes turn to a dentist or oral surgeon to help get rid of their symptons.

There are all kinds of dental braces and devices that have been created to attempt a cure. In addition some people undergo corrective dental treatments such as replacing missing teeth and using crowns or bridges. Why? Some people believe that these techniques “balance” the surfaces of your teeth or that they can correct a bite problem and cure your TMJ.

But What Does The Research Say?

The hypothesis above are plausible but there is not much evidence to support dentistry nor orthodontics as a cure for TMJ. As an example, consider Layton, and McDonald from the Department of Orthodontics at the Leeds Dental Institute who did a comprehensive review of dental research. They found nearly 300 studies of which only 55 were peer-reviewed articles. But upon further analysis, only four studies were directly applicable to dental and orthodontic techniques for TMJ. Only four!

The researchers concluded that “There are insufficient research data on which to base our clinical practice on the relationship of active orthodontic intervention and TMD.”

How about that? As of yet, there is no reliable data that shows that dentistry or orthodontics are an effective treatment for TMJ. Given how expensive these dental treatments can be it might be best to avoid them and try other alternatives.

While I cannot point to specific research on the effectiveness of my Eliminate TMJ Pain Now program, I can tell you that it fits within the recommend best practices as set forth by WebMD and The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Simple self-care practices such as relaxation techniques, stress reduction, and biofeedback are often effective in easing TMJ symptoms. Give it a try and if it does not help you, simply contact me for a full refund:

Eliminate TMJ Pain Now

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1 Comment

  1. Ryan,

    Funny you should bring up this TMJ thang now. I had an steady ATM and FI client had to drop out this past summer due to her buying an house with her husband and two kids.
    This must have been stressful for her and demanding of more work in their business. About a month ago she called me after this long summer and winter absence, complaining that she was having ‘Jaw problems’.. and requested some new FIs from me.

    In the first FI visit she ‘presented with an swollen left side of her face and jaw.

    TMJ cases often happen to People who grind their teeth at night when sleeping, To counter- act the teeth grinding most dentists will immediately prescribe an TOOTHGAURD to be worm in the mout when sleeping . The Dental patients are told not to sleep without it. After having worn said Tooothgaurd for some time she had developed some severe pain in some upper left teeth and said pain radiated to her left ear, and her left face was markedly swollen.

    In the first meeting I did some general and pelvic FI work and then some very gentle face work ala Gindler, Feldenkrais, Berenger and myself.

    A week later we met again. She said that she felt better after the FI including her face, but she said her her face developed an soreness, later. This was alarming to me.

    After two more FIs weekly, with her face still being swollen and her tooth pain increasing so that she could hardly eat, I advised the client to see her general practitioner (MD) right away and ask him if there were some infection. Her dentist had såid he should see an TMJ specialist.:}}

    A week later she sent me the following note:

    Hi John-

    Hope this finds you well.

    I wanted to update you on how my jaw’s been feeling.

    Last week I saw an Ear, Nose, Throat Dr who said my ears were clear–so he recommended seeing an oral surgeon.

    I went to an oral surgeon, the head of oral surgery at (such and such big)sic
    Hospital, who did some tests (palpating muscles around jaw etc) and diagnosed classic TMJ Disorder. Tendinitis of the jaw muscles.

    I am supposed to wear my mouth guard at all times except eating (hard to do), eat only soft foods for 3 months, put warm compresses on my jaw 3x a day, and take an prescription strength Naproxen (Aleve), and a muscle relaxer at night. I have a follow up appointment a week from Friday. Not sure how long I can take the medication, but it does seem to help the pain.

    {I had asked her to keep me informed re this Medical Oral Surgical treatment.}

    This evening I received this note:…..

    No worries, John. I’m going for a follow-up appt next Friday, so will let you know how it goes.

    The medication is relieving some pain; I’m wearing the nightguard, and sleeping well as a result of taking the muscle relaxer.

    Hope to see you over the summer.

    {I guess some times we need an oral surgeon, as well as a hole in the head.}

    Certainly the pain must be treated, before anything else can be done.

    Perhaps when the pain goes away, better things can be done. i’m not stupid at face work neither. I have been doing it since the sixties (that’s the 1960’s), when I studied Gindler work. Maybe I’ll learn it to you sometime.

    I downloaded your materials too. Thanks. This TMJ stuff is a horrible affliction.

    I knew a lady once i the 911 trauma area, who used to wake up screaming from her Night Gaurd.

    This is an factual report.
    best wishes,
    John Quinn

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