TMJ TMD Treatment in Ocoee, FL

TMD stands for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or disease. Ever wonder how you’re able to move your mouth to eat, speak, and yawn? We each have two joints connecting the lower jawbone to the face. These are the TMJs, and they let us open and close our mouths, in addition to some side to side movement.

At Smiles of Ocoee in Ocoee, FL , we’ve seen many patients with TMD. It’s not a pleasant thing to live with and can create many difficulties. The world is always trying to come up with newer treatments for TMD. At Smiles of Ocoee, it’s our job to contribute, participate, and stay updated so we can help our patients.

What Causes TMD?

Trauma to the face is the main cause of TMD. It can be due to a punch, fall, or any kind of accident. Trauma to the side of the face or the chin is more likely to cause TMD. Degenerative arthritis can affect the disc in the joint, leading to TMD too.

Patients who grind their teeth while asleep or are under a lot of stress subject their TMJs to a lot of pressure. In the long run, this can lead to damage. Unfortunately, sometimes there’s no obvious or identifiable cause.

TMD Treatment

There are several things that we can use to treat TMD. It’s always better to start with the least invasive treatments and work our way up to the more invasive ones. Mild painkillers and muscle relaxants are what we like to start with. In most cases, TMD resolves with these medications. They relax jaw muscle and halt joint inflammation leading to improvement.

A more invasive option is injecting corticosteroids into the joint. Steroids are very powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. They can be used in patients with locked jaws to provide much-needed relief. If all else fails, we’ll need to perform surgery.

Instead of traditional surgery, we like to perform arthroscopic surgery. Using a small tube with a camera at its end, we can operate on the joint without big incisions or trauma to the surrounding tissues.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Our dental office uses red light therapy for TMJ discomfort. Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy, is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. This innovative technology has gained immense popularity due to its versatile applications and numerous benefits.

Red Light Therapy Benefits

1. Skin Rejuvenation

Experience smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin with red light therapy. It promotes collagen production, reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and acne scars.

2. Pain Management

Red light therapy can alleviate pain by reducing inflammation and improving blood circulation. It’s effective for various conditions, including arthritis, muscle pain, and joint discomfort.

3. Enhanced Athletic Performance

Many athletes rely on red light therapy to speed recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and boost their overall performance.

4. Mental Well-being

This therapy has been shown to enhance mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

5. Hair Growth

Stimulate hair follicles and combat hair loss with red light therapy.

6. Wound Healing

Accelerate the body’s natural healing process for wounds, cuts, and surgical incisions.

Near-Infrared Light Therapy

Near-infrared light therapy is a variation of red light therapy that utilizes slightly longer wavelengths. This red light therapy near you offers additional benefits, such as deeper tissue penetration, making it effective for deeper pain relief and cellular rejuvenation.