Because a “diagnosis” of TMJ can mean a multitude of different problems, we must first determine which flavor of TMJ is afflicting the patient before we can determine the Treatment for TMJ.

Typically, a patient reports a problem around the face , head, jaw, neck, or ear, and the patient is told, “You have TMJ.  You need a Night Guard.”  DIY night guards are found in drug stores and on the Internet – each one stating that it is the treatment for TMJ.  There is an unknown number of different types of DIY night guard appliances, and each one has different gadgets and gizmos that are touted to cure your problem.

However, there is no “Magic Plastic” available anywhere that cures whatever TMJ problem you may have.  In fact, choosing an inappropriate DIY appliance and/or fitting it incorrectly can make the situation much worse.  The incorrect or poorly fitted DIY night guard can ruin your night’s sleep:

1. 1. TMJ – The wrong appliance can increase muscle activity or increase pressures in the joint causing pain and poor sleep.
   2. Snoring – The wrong appliance can make snoring worse which ruins both your and your bed partner’s sleep.  Click here for more information on Snoring.
   3. Sleep Apnea – Your snoring may be a sign of undiagnosed sleep apnea. The wrong appliance could make your sleep apnea worse.  Click for Sleep Apnea information, and here for the Signs & Symptoms of sleep apnea which include Instant Death.

As earlier stated, to treat your TMJ, we need to know what kind of TMJ you have.  Actually, the first thing is to rule out any tooth problems as the source of pain.

Once dental (tooth) pain has been ruled out, we ask many questions to help pinpoint the origin of the pain.  Only after we have an accurate diagnosis of what is causing the pain, can we determine the proper treatment for the individual.