Medically reviewed by Dr. Kristen Scholl, D.M.D.
Jaw pain, persistent headaches, teeth grinding, and a clicking or locking jaw are not symptoms to push through — they are signals that something is wrong with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, TMJ disorders affect millions of Americans, are at least twice as common in women as in men, and often begin between the ages of 20 and 40. Left unaddressed, they tend to worsen over time. As part of our additional specialties at Bucks County Smiles, Dr. Kristen Scholl leads our TMJ/TMD care in Yardley, PA — offering customized, non-surgical treatment plans designed to get to the root of your discomfort rather than just masking the symptoms.
As an integrative dental medicine practice, we evaluate TMJ disorders in the context of your whole health. That means reviewing your medical history, understanding any systemic conditions that may contribute to jaw dysfunction, and coordinating with your primary care physician when appropriate. Whatever the cause, we work with you to build a treatment plan that fits your situation and gets you lasting relief.
TMJ disorder does not always have one clear cause, and the same set of symptoms can stem from different sources depending on the person. Because treatment needs to match the cause to be effective, our first priority is always an accurate diagnosis using CBCT 3D imaging and a thorough clinical evaluation.
Our team at Bucks County Smiles understands that many TMJ disorder symptoms can be painful and sometimes debilitating. We offer customized treatment plans in Yardley, PA, to help you restore a pain-free, healthy smile. Our dental team provides the TMJ treatment you need to find lasting relief. Some common TMJ treatment solutions include the following:
A custom-made mouthguard or splint can help avoid grinding and clenching. Your mouthguard or splint can be worn at night but is also made for protection during the daytime if necessary. Like sports guards, they form a barrier between your top and bottom teeth. They are customized to you, so they fit snugly over your teeth. These appliances help your jaw move into a relaxed position while protecting your teeth.
A misalignment of teeth affecting bite is caused a malocclusion. Malocclusions can cause stress on TM joints when your teeth strain to come together properly. Orthodontics is commonly used to correct tooth alignment and your bite. The correction can also reduce or eliminate bruxism and the accompanying jaw pain.
Establishing occlusal equilibrium is vital in avoiding malocclusions or misaligned bites that cause stress to the TM joint causing temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as altering a few tooth surfaces to help teeth come together properly. Our team will strategically remove a small amount of tooth enamel in one or more areas of the mouth to reduce grinding and clenching. Resulting in the reduction or elimination of jaw pain!
Botox® and Xeomin injections are an innovative and effective solution for managing TMJ disorders. These neurotoxin injections work by temporarily relaxing the muscles around the jaw joint, reducing tension and alleviating symptoms such as jaw pain and headaches. The precision of these injections allows for targeted relief, offering patients a non-surgical option to address muscle-related TMJ discomfort with results that typically last several months.
Trigger point therapy is a specialized form of manual therapy where we identify and apply precise pressure to specific trigger points in the jaw and surrounding muscles, aiming to release tension and promote relaxation. By addressing the muscular component of TMJ disorders, trigger point therapy can provide targeted relief, reducing pain, and improving jaw function for individuals experiencing TMJ-related symptoms.
If you have been managing jaw pain, recurring headaches, a locked or clicking jaw, neck tension, or earaches, TMJ treatment may offer the relief you have been looking for. Left untreated, TMJ disorder symptoms tend to worsen — leading to increasingly worn teeth, chronic pain, and disrupted sleep from clenching or grinding. Dr. Kristen Scholl and our team use a range of targeted, non-surgical approaches to restore comfort and function to your jaw before it reaches that point.
For patients who feel anxious about dental visits, we offer sedation options to help you stay relaxed throughout treatment. Many patients with TMJ disorder also benefit from evaluation for sleep apnea — a condition that often co-occurs with bruxism and jaw dysfunction, and one that our team has the in-office training to assess and treat. Bucks County Smiles operates as a concierge, out-of-network practice. Our team can help you submit claims to your insurance carrier and discuss all financial options with you directly. To get started, schedule a comprehensive exam or call us at (215) 493-4021.
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