TMJ Treatment in Bismarck, ND

Your Bismarck dentist might first diagnose you with TMD/TMJ before administering any treatment. They’ll first review your medical history before conducting physical examinations and take imaging tests like X-ray, MRI, and CT scans. After diagnosis, the dentist will create a treatment plan before moving to the next step.

Dentists first start with conservative treatments for TMJ. These are treatments that don’t require extensive dental work or heavy medication. Some examples include jaw exercises, heat and cold treatments, soft diets and pain management. This should suffice for minor to moderate cases of TMD.

Dentists will consider dental treatments for severe TMJ. These treatments include dental splints, mouthguards, bite adjustments, and orthodontic devices. They might recommend surgery for severe cases of TMJ. They’ll also prescribe medication to relax your muscles and reduce muscle spasms associated with TMD.

It’s your responsibility to follow the local dentist’s instructions after treatment. This means taking your medication as prescribed and sticking to a soft diet instead of hard and crunchy foods. You should also try the stress management techniques suggested by your dentist and perform the jaw exercises daily as instructed.