Getting to Know Temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders
(Part IV)
Together with other non-invasive treatments, there are medicines that may help bring down the pain linked with Temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders.
One of the medicines used for TMJ could be pain relievers and anti-inflammatories in order to control the pain.
Your dentist may prescribe stronger pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs if the over-the-counter drugs may not be able to control the pain. Of course, the prescription for stronger pain relievers will be only for a limited time.
Medicines such as amitriptyline are used mostly for depression, but in low doses.
There are times they are also used for pain relief, bruxism control and sleeplessness.
Another treatment for TMJ is a muscle relaxants. A muscle relaxant is used to help patients for a few days to help relieve pain caused by TMJ disorders created by muscle spasms.
The non-drug TMJ disorders may include the use of mouth guards.
People with jaw pain will benefit from wearing a soft or firm device placed over their teeth, but the reasons these devices are of great help are not fully understood.
Together with exercises to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles, other possible TMJ treatments might include ultrasound, heat therapy and ice.
Another important way to alleviate TMJ is via education and counselling. This way, patients learn how to control behavior that could aggravate the pain of TMJ.
Next week we will talk about surgical treatments that can be used for the alleviation of TMJ disorders.