Help docs! my mother was recently diagnosed with tmj. how do we treat this?

Diet and meds: Tmj is an inflammation of the jaw joint and is worsened by chewing. She should be on a very soft diet for 3 weeks and anti-inflammatories. If the pain persists, she may need to see her dentist or an oral surgeon.

TX can vary: The cause of your tmj/tmd, if known and the duration of your problem, may dictate the treatment. Often treatment for TMJ can vary from person to person and also may sometimes involve seeing other doctors. Physical therapy, tens, ultrasound therapy, exercises, and mouthpieces are the most standard types of treatment. You may need combinations of all.

A few things: Depends on symptoms, and cause of symptoms. 3 signs of TMJ dysfunction: joint noises, joint pain & limited oral opening. Self treat with soft diet, jaw exercises, massage, heat/cold, OTC pain meds. A splint or physical therapy would be next. Occasionally muscle relaxants, biofeedback. Xrays are done for diagnosis. Surgery usually reserved for serious symptoms not responsive to other treatments.

TMJoint Tx: The first step is to have her evaluated by a dentist who has training and experience in treating patients with TMJ\TMD. Sometime the cause is easily remedied with simple conventional treatment, while other times the cause is multi-factorial and requires a combination of treatment modalities. Early treatment often prevents more serious complications later on. This requires a one on one evaluation