If you suffer from TMJ disorder, you might have a hard time deciding who to turn to for care. TMJ disorders can affect multiple areas of the body, including jaw bones, teeth, facial muscles, neck, ears and head. When choosing a tmj specialist, be sure to find one who has good bedside manners and answers your questions clearly. Ask for an explanation of any aspect of your treatment plan that you don’t understand, and don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion if you feel that the TMJ specialist is pressuring you to agree to something that you don’t fully understand.

TMJ specialists are trained in evaluating and treating TMJ pain and disorders. In addition to assessing and diagnosing TMJ symptoms, they can also provide treatment for these disorders to help alleviate your discomfort. They can also teach you techniques to improve your posture and reduce your risk of future TMJ pain.

There are several types of TMJ specialists, including neuromuscular dentists, oral surgeons, and otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors). In addition to being trained in the anatomy of the jaw and the diagnosis of TMJ dysfunction, these experts are familiar with the relationships between the skeletal and muscular systems. They can assess the relationship between your TMJ and a variety of other issues, such as headaches and stress.

In general, TMJ specialists conduct a thorough history and interview to get to the root of your pain. They will palpate the musculature, tendons, and bones of your jaw and neck. They may perform a cranial nerve screening and ask you about your headaches and sleep problems. They may recommend diagnostic imaging, such as dental x-rays or CT scans of the joint disk or MRIs of the jaw joints. They might also use an arthroscopy, which involves a small tube with a camera and surgical tools to remove scar tissue, inject medicine, or reshape the joint.

TMJ specialist care can include medication, such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation. They might also recommend a mouthguard for nighttime bruxism to reduce pressure on your jaw and prevent tooth damage. They might also prescribe physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of your jaw and retrain your jaw to move correctly, which can reduce or eliminate your TMJ pain.

The best TMJ specialists have the skills and experience to treat your underlying problem, which can often be corrected with conservative treatments. These options include a physical therapy program to retrain the jaw, bite corrections, and a range of medications. In some cases, your TMJ specialist might even suggest surgical procedures to correct severe or permanent problems, such as bone implants or surgery to repair a deformed jaw. However, you should only consider these if your pain is so severe that it doesn’t respond to conservative treatment. A TMJ specialist who has extensive training in the temporomandibular joint will know when these procedures are appropriate.