TMJ Treatment – Columbia, TN

Can TMJ Disorder Be Treated Without Surgery?

Yes, and it’s generally recommended to do so whenever possible. While surgical treatments for TMJ disorder do exist, this approach shouldn’t be your first choice in most cases. Why resort to making permanent changes to your jaw if you can find relief with less invasive methods? Once we examine your mouth, we can put together a plan for treating your TMJ disorder without surgery; this will likely involve wearing a customized mouthguard as well as taking steps at home to manage the issue.

Is TMJ Treatment Safe?

Wearing a mouthguard that has been personalized for your unique smile is considered a very safe approach to treating TMJ disorder. Of course, any treatment that you undergo to relieve your jaw pain should be handled by a professional that you can trust. At Beck Dental Care of Columbia, our team will always take your comfort and safety very seriously, and we’ll personalize our approach to your care to meet your specific needs.

How Long Does It Take for a TMJ Mouthguard to Work?

Some TMJ treatment plans take longer than others to complete. The cause of the disorder and the severity of your symptoms will affect how long it takes to find relief. If you wear a mouthguard as part of your TMJ treatment, it likely won’t be long before you notice a reduction in your pain, and there will be a noticeable improvement after the six-week mark. However, the exact amount of time that you need to wear your mouthguard before your TMJ disorder is resolved is not set in stone.

Is TMJ Treatment Covered by Insurance?

TMJ treatment can potentially be covered by insurance, but there are several variables that need to be taken into account. First of all, the procedure can potentially be covered by either your medical insurance or your dental insurance; it depends on the specifics of your plan as well as the type of treatment that you’re pursuing.

On top of that, the kind of coverage that your insurance company is willing to offer for TMJ treatment often depends on what policy you have as well as what state you live in. Some insurance plans might exclude TMJ treatment altogether while others may only offer coverage for specific procedures. In short, before you start seeking a solution for your TMJ disorder, it always pays to double-check your plan to make sure that you have a firm grasp on what your benefits look like.

Can TMJ Be Cured Permanently?

While the discomfort caused by TMJ disorders can sometimes fade away over time without treatment, it’s important to seek professional help if your symptoms begin to affect your daily life. While some TMJ therapy methods only provide temporary reduction of symptoms, the occlusal splints and occlusal adjustments/equilibration we offer at our Columbia office can permanently address the underlying causes of TMJ disorders such as misalignment and jaw tension, allowing the patient to enjoy lasting relief and comfort.

How Long Does Occlusal Equilibration Take for TMJ?

Equilibration, also called occlusal adjustment, varies in how soon it can relieve the symptoms of TMJ disorders depending on which changes need to be made. However, most patients report some relief shortly after their bite becomes more well-aligned. The length of equilibration treatments can also vary, and it usually takes one, two, or three appointments for us to make the necessary adjustments to properly redistribute chewing pressure across your teeth. These appointments are generally very brief and can result in lasting relief.

Does Occlusal Adjustment for TMJ Hurt?

While making the specific changes needed to realign your teeth and jaws, we’ll do everything we can to ensure your occlusal treatments are as comfortable as possible. We typically make these adjustments by precisely filing down the biting surfaces of teeth and restorations such as dental crowns that protrude and throw off the overall balance of the bite. To do this, our dentist uses a small tool to remove a tiny amount of enamel without negatively affecting your oral health. Some patients may also need to have existing dental structures reinforced with tooth-colored composite resin so their teeth can chew more evenly. Your treatment may or may not require the use of local anesthetic treatments to ensure your comfort, and while you may experience some soreness in the treated areas for a few days afterward, this should be mild, temporary, and easily reduced with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Is TMJ Treatment Expensive?

There are a range of TMJ treatments available, and the associated costs can vary widely due to factors such as where you receive these procedures and who performs them. While these treatments may cost as little as a few hundred dollars, some of them can cost as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars. More extensive treatments are usually more expensive than simpler ones, and which procedure is best for you depends on factors like what causes your TMJ disorder and the severity of your symptoms. While insurance plans may or may not cover TMJ treatments, we offer financing options through CareCredit, a third-party lender that breaks your overall bill into smaller monthly payments that can be easily managed with little or no interest. While TMJ treatment may sound expensive at first, the comfort it can bring will be priceless.