TMJ Therapy in Sandy Springs, GA
Jaw pain, headaches, and clicking are treatable. Treatment starts with finding the actual cause.
Temporomandibular joint disorders can significantly affect your quality of life, causing discomfort and interfering with ordinary daily activities. Dr. Sunny Choy provides effective TMJ therapy to relieve symptoms and restore normal function.
Understanding TMJ disorders
The temporomandibular joint connects your jawbone to your skull and works like a sliding hinge, allowing you to speak, chew, and yawn. Disorders arise from several causes:
- Injury — trauma to the jaw or head.
- Arthritis — osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis affecting the joint.
- Bruxism — grinding or clenching, which loads the joint heavily.
- Misalignment — misaligned teeth or jaw.
- Stress — muscle tension that translates into joint pain.
Common symptoms
- Jaw pain or tenderness in the joint or surrounding muscles
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- Ear pain or discomfort around the ears
- Pain or difficulty while chewing
- A jaw that locks, clicks, or pops
How we treat it
- Custom-made oral appliances. Fitted splints reposition the jaw and relieve pressure on the joint, worn at night or during stressful periods to prevent clenching.
- Physical therapy. Therapeutic exercises, stretches, and massage strengthen the jaw muscles and improve joint function.
- Medication. Anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants can manage pain and inflammation.
- Stress management. Relaxation exercises, biofeedback, and counselling address a frequent underlying driver.
- Lifestyle changes. Dietary and postural adjustments often reduce symptoms measurably.
What to expect
Your first visit is a comprehensive evaluation: symptoms, medical history, and a physical examination of the jaw and joint. Diagnostic imaging may be used for a detailed view. From that, Dr. Choy builds a personalized plan, and regular follow-ups track your progress and adjust it.
Common questions
How do I know whether my jaw pain is TMJ or a tooth?
A tooth problem usually stays in one spot and reacts to hot, cold, or biting on that specific tooth. TMJ pain tends to move: the joint in front of the ear, the muscles along the jaw and temple, sometimes an earache or a headache with no ear or head cause. It is often worse in the morning if you grind at night. The only way to be sure is an examination, because the two can also happen together.
Will a nightguard fix it?
For pain driven by clenching and grinding, a custom-fitted guard is often the single most effective thing, because it stops the muscles from loading the joint all night. It is not a cure for every cause. Arthritis in the joint, an injury, or a bite problem each need something different, which is why the evaluation comes first.
Is the drugstore mouthguard the same thing?
No. A boil-and-bite guard is a slab of soft material that many people end up chewing on, which can make clenching worse rather than better. A custom guard is made from a scan of your own teeth to hold the jaw in a specific position, and it is adjusted after you have worn it.
How long does TMJ treatment take?
Most people notice a difference within a few weeks of starting, and the plan is reviewed at follow-up appointments rather than set once and left. TMJ is usually managed rather than cured outright, and the aim is to get you comfortable and keep you there.