The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the back of a person’s jawbone to their skull. Chronic pain caused by the TMJ is known as “temporomandibular joint disorder” or simply “TMJD.”
The TMJ is located where several moving parts in an individual’s facial structure converge, which makes TMJ pain a tricky thing to deal with. You could feel pain or discomfort anywhere from your ear and mouth and even down to your shoulders and neck, so it can be confusing to figure out who to see for TMJ problems.
What kind of doctor treats TMJ problems? Should you see a primary care physician, a dentist, or some other kind of specialist?
What Kind of Doctor Treats TMJ?
Many people who are suffering from TMJ pain will see a primary care doctor or a dentist, depending on where they are feeling symptoms. In many cases, people don’t know their pain is being caused by the TMJ. They assume the problem is in their ears or mouth.
If you suffer from TMJ problems, the doctor / dentist will refer you to an expert who specializes in TMJ pain.
Dentists Are Normally the First to Hear About TMJ Problems
You normally see a dentist if you think you’re suffering from pain around the jaw. Dentists are typically skilled at working with teeth but they’re also experts in the anatomy of the entire jaw. Skilled dentists will be able to figure out what’s causing your discomfort. In many cases, TMJD is caused by misalignment of the jaw or by grinding / clenching your teeth, which are problems that can sometimes be treated by dentists.
However, not all dentists are skilled in dealing with the TMJ. General dentists who focus more on cleaning and aesthetics may not have the skills required to provide TMD treatment.
You should only get TMD treatment from someone who is trained and experienced in dealing with TMJ problems, or else you can risk ineffective treatments that just prolong your discomfort. One kind of doctor who has this particular kind of training is an orofacial pain specialist.
Orofacial Pain Specialists
Orofacial pain specialists are doctors who treat TMJ pain and other types of problems in your mouth and facial area. These specialists usually have a dental background with special expertise about the structures surrounding your jaw.
Orofacial specialists have extensive knowledge about:
- How the TMJ works
- How the TMJ can be inflamed or damaged
- How to provide short-term pain relief for TMJD symptoms
- How to provide treatment that improves your condition over time
Orofacial specialists can provide comprehensive treatment options that incorporate additional care being provided by other specialists.
Other Specialties That Can Help Treat TMJ Disorders
TMJ disorders are complex, so an orofacial specialist may also refer you to other specialists for additional treatment:
- Pain Management Specialists: These experts can help you manage chronic pain that’s caused by TMJD so you can be happier and more productive while you’re receiving treatment.
- Physical Therapists: These experts can help you increase the range of motion in your jaw to alleviate “locking” and to make your TMJ healthier.
- Myofunctional Therapists: These are physical therapists who work with the mouth, tongue, and face muscles.
- Prosthodontist: This is a dentist who specializes in jaw disorders. They can provide treatment if your TMJD is caused by a misalignment in your jaw.
- Otolaryngologists (ENTs): ENT doctors specialist in ear, nose, and throat disorders. They can provide treatment if your TMJD is causing sinus or ear pain.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: These specialists have expertise about the muscles, joints, and ligaments in your face and can provide treatment for more serious cases of TMJD.
Seeking Care for TMJ Disorders
Seek out an orofacial doctor or TMJ specialist if you think you’re suffering from TMJ pain, or if you’re dealing with any mysterious pain in your facial region or neck and shoulders.
TMJD symptoms can be very disruptive to your life, so you want to get it dealt with as soon as possible. By going straight to a TMJ specialist, you can get your treatment started sooner. Your primary care doctor or general dentist will likely refer you to an orofacial specialist anyway, so better to make an appointment with one right off the bat.
How to Select a TMJ Specialist
How do you choose the right TMJ specialist?
Consider the following when you’re searching for a treatment provider:
- Certifications: A true TMJ specialist should be specially trained to deal with orofacial pain and treating the TMJ. They should have proper credentials and training from accredited institutions.
- Experience: It’s always a safer bet to pick a specialist that has plenty of experience providing TMD treatment, instead of someone who’s fresh out of training.
- Reviews: Check the specialist’s online reviews to gauge whether other patients have had a positive experience.
- Special Preferences: You might want a specialist who’s a certain gender, speaks a specific language, or is associated with a particular hospital.
- Location: You might want to find a specialist that’s in reasonably close distance to you, especially if you’ll need to make regular trips to the clinic or will have a longer treatment period.
TMJ Treatment Process
What happens when you make an appointment with a TMJ specialist?
The TMJ specialist will:
- Diagnose the problem
- Look for specific TMD symptoms
- Identify the cause of your TMJ discomfort
- Provide treatment
Diagnosing the Problem
First, the TMJ specialist will discuss your symptoms with you and perform an examination of your jaw. The specialist will:
- Have you open and close your mouth, while feeling your jaw and listening for clicks
- Press on different areas around your jaw to find where there’s pain or discomfort
- Check your jaw’s range of motion
The doctor may also order dental X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to examine the bones around your teeth and jaw, the joint disk, or the soft tissue surrounding the joint.
In some cases, the doctor may order a TMJ arthroscopy. A thin tube is inserted into the joint space with a small camera attached. This enables the specialist to view the area around the joint and make a better diagnosis.
What Symptoms Doctors Will Look for When Diagnosing TMJ Disorders
There are a wide range of TMD symptoms that the orofacial pain specialist will check for, including:
- Jaw pain
- Ear pain (because ear pain is commonly caused by ear infections, the doctor will examine your ear and will be able to identity an infection or rule it out)
- Teeth pain (your teeth may be sore due to grinding or clenching your jaws, which is a TMJ-related issue)
- Limited jaw movement (TMJ problems may cause your joint to lock up, making it difficult to open and close your mouth)
Identifying the Cause of TMJ Discomfort
Once the TMJ specialist identifies your symptoms, they will determine what exactly is causing the pain and discomfort.
Common causes of TMJ pain include:
- Teeth Grinding / Jaw Clenching
- Injury (facial trauma could damage your TMJ)
- Arthritis
- Diseases affecting the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage
A Completed Diagnosis Will Help Guide TMJ Treatment
After the TMJ specialist has determined the cause of your discomfort, they’ll provide you with treatment options to both cure your pain and prevent the pain from happening again or getting worse.
The treatment options may vary on a case-to-case basis. Most treatments will include pain relievers, anti inflammatories, and muscle relaxers, which can give you immediate relief from the worst symptoms (although they won’t necessarily prevent reoccurrence).
The TMJ specialist may also provide you with a mouthguard to wear at night, if your pain is caused by teeth grinding. They might also recommend trigger point injections, Botox injections, and physical therapy.
In rare cases, the specialist may give joint injections or recommend surgery to fix damage in your TMJ.
Preparing for a Visit to a TMJ Specialist
What can you do to prepare for a visit to a TMJ specialist?
The specialists will ask a series of questions to figure out the causes of your symptoms. Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- When did your symptoms begin?
- Have you felt these symptoms before?
- Are the symptoms constant or do they come and go?
- Is there any motion or activity that triggers the pain?
- Do you have frequent aches?
- Do you have difficulty opening your mouth?
- Is it painful to open your mouth?
- Does your jaw click or pop when you try to open you mouth?
- Have you been more stressed recently?
- What medications do you regularly take?
The TMJ specialist may ask additional questions based on your responses.
It’s important to understand the treatment options offered by the TMJ specialist and how they will affect your health. Here are some questions you might want to ask the specialist:
- What is the purpose of the treatment?
- Is treatment necessary?
- Are there other treatments available? Why would you recommend one over the others?
- Will the treatment improve my condition?
- What are the side-effects or complications of the treatment? How will we deal with them?
- Will there be follow-up treatments? How many?
- How much will treatment cost?
- Does insurance cover the treatment?
- Has the treatment been determined safe and effective by clinical trials?
- Is my treatment part of a clinical trial? If so, what are my obligations for participating in the trial?
Tips When Talking to a TMJ Specialist
Here are some important things to remember when talking to a TMJ specialist:
- Be Open and Honest: Be honest about the symptoms you’re experiencing and what may have caused the problem. This will help the specialist give you the best and most efficient treatment.
- Ask Questions: Ask for an explanation of anything you don’t understand. It’s the specialist’s job to make sure you understand your treatment options. You can also ask about fees–if a certain fee seems unusually high, ask the specialist how the fee compares to what other providers charge.
- It’s Your Call: Don’t be pressured into any treatment option. You don’t have to agree to anything and can take time to think about it or seek a second opinion from another provider. You can also ask the specialist whether there are alternative treatment options to the one the specialist is pushing.
- Bring Someone with You: Ask a friend or family member to accompany you if you think the discussion will be difficult. It’s reassuring to have someone there to be your advocate or to take notes.
- Your Comfort is Important: A good TMJ specialist should treat you with care and listen carefully to your questions and concerns. They should also be able to thoroughly explain what’s causing your problem and how the treatment will help. If you don’t feel comfortable with your specialist or if you feel like you’re being left in the dark, then it’s best to seek a different provider.
Contact a Qualified TMJ Specialist if You Are Experiencing TMJ Discomfort
Contact Dr Omrani if you’re looking for a qualified TMJ specialist in Los Angeles to help provide treatments for TMJD. We understand how painful TMJ problems are and we want to hear about your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan to soothe your pain.
Dr. Omrani and her staff of certified experts are experienced in treating TMJ-related issues and can get to the root of what’s causing your discomfort. Contact us at (310) 422-4246 to learn more about our clinic.
TMJ Doctor FAQs
What type of doctor is best for TMJ?
An TMJ specialist / orofacial specialist is the best type of doctor to diagnose and treat TMJ-related problems. TMJ specialists are dentists that have been properly certified in handling myofascial pain. Not all cosmetic dentists are qualified to treat pain caused by the TMJ.
Is TMJ a medical or dental problem?
The TMJ can cause both medical and dental problems. The TMJ is a joint that connects your lower jaw with your skull. When the joint is inflamed or damaged, it can cause a wide array of symptoms that can be felt in your teeth as well as your jaw, ears, shoulders, and neck. A TMJ specialist is the best type of doctor to see. These are dentists who are specially trained in treating TMJ-related problems.
Can TMJ be treated by a dentist?
TMJ pain can be treated by dentists who are trained and certified in treating TMJ-related issues. Not all dentists are qualified to treat TMJ pain, so if you think you’re suffering from it then it’s best to go straight to a TMJ specialist.
Who diagnoses TMJ?
A TMJ specialist can examine your symptoms and diagnose a TMJ problem. TMJ specialists know what to look for and have special tools that can quickly diagnose whether or not you have an inflamed or damaged TMJ.
Which type of doctor specializes in teeth and jaw alignment?
An orthodontist specializes in teeth and jaw alignment. If your TMJ problem is caused by misalignment of your jaw, they might refer you to an orthodontist or prosthodontist.
