TMJ Treatment

San Antonio, Texas

The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), located in Las Vegas, Nevada, specializes in cosmetic and neuromuscular dental training. A leading post-graduate dental teaching center, the institute has become renowned for its “LVI Smile,” as well as teaching progressive approaches for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD).

Sometimes, patients discover that TMJ, the underlying cause of their worn or unattractive smile, is also the reason behind chronic headaches and incessant jaw pain.

By rejuvenating your smile with effective neuromuscular techniques taught at LVI, Dr. Brian Hale’s patients will receive the best of both worlds; a beautiful “LVI Smile” and a pain-free chewing and jaw function.

TMJ treatment options

Once you have been diagnosed with TMJ, you and Dr. Hale will discuss treatment options that will best meet your needs. In general, TMJ treatment follows three basic steps:

Relieve muscle spasms and pain

The primary concern is to alleviate your pain. This can be done immediately using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). This is a way to relax your muscles through gentle massage. There is a rhythmic pulsing that encourages relaxation by increasing your blood flow and pumping out waste products in your jaw and surrounding area. TENS also helps to relieve pain because it stimulates your body’s production of endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals.

Stabilize your bite

During this step, you will typically wear a temporary device, called an orthotic, over your teeth. This device allows Dr. Hale and his team to alter the plastic without adjusting your teeth until your bite has been stabilized. Once this happens and your painful symptoms are alleviated, we can move on to long-term management of your bite in this ideal position.

Long-term management

Permanent solutions to manage your new bite vary from patient to patient. Here are three of the most common approaches:

• Coronoplasty: this consists of smoothing and reshaping your tooth enamel to permanently realign your bite. This simple procedure only works if your bite is slightly misaligned, and does not require the use of anesthesia.
• Restorations: this consists of using dental restorations such as inlays, onlays to maintain your optimum bite position.
• Reconstruction: this involves increasing the height of your teeth through the use of dental crowns. This method also maintains your ideal bite while providing support for your jaw bone and muscles.
• Orthodontics: this method is ideal for healthy teeth and involves moving them into their correct position using braces.

Serving the San Antonio area, neuromuscular dentist Dr. Brian Hale is a graduate of LVI. He is an experienced neuromuscular dentist who can help alleviate your TMJ pain and help you achieve a comfortable bite and picture-perfect smile. If you live in the San Antonio area, please schedule a neuromuscular dentistry consultation with our office today.