TMJ Therapy in Reading, PA
Ready to get started?
Contact UsWhat Is TMJ Disorder?
You have two joints located just under your ears known as the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. These joints act as a hinge and play an important role in enabling you to eat, speak, and manipulate your jaw. TMJ disorder (TMD) is a condition where the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, or surrounding nerves become damaged or impaired.
The exact cause of this disorder may be difficult to determine. Things like bruxism, excessive strain on the joints, and trauma to the area can all cause TMJ disorder. In most cases, the discomfort and pain associated with TMJ disorder may be fleeting and can be managed. Our team at the Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center recommends seeking treatment so that symptoms don’t worsen.
Dr. Stephen Sulzbach specializes in craniofacial pain and can offer personalized treatment plans to effectively treat issues with your TMJ at The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center in Reading, PA. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a consultation.
What Are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorder?
If you have persistent jaw pain or difficulty opening and closing your jaw, it may likely be a sign of TMD. The most common symptoms of TMJ disorder include:
- Headaches or frequent migraines
- Restricted or locked jaw
- Toothaches
- Clicking sounds when speaking or chewing
- Sleep apnea
- Limited range of jaw motion
- Discomfort when speaking or chewing
- Pain, discomfort, or tenderness around the ears or jaw joints
- Pain behind the eyes or in the shoulder, face, neck, or upper back
Symptoms of TMD may be seen as stand-alone issues, which causes them to often go misdiagnosed. While dentists are likely to assess common symptoms, they may not recognize them as parts of a larger problem without specialized training.
Dr. Sulzbach focuses heavily on continuing his education. He’s the first and only dentist in Pennsylvania to hold dual fellowships and diplomates in the treatment of craniofacial pain disorders and dental sleep medicine. Seeking treatment at The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center means you can rest assured knowing that you’ll receive high-quality, experienced care for your TMJ symptoms from a sleep and dental expert.
What Are the Risks of TMJ Disorder?
Not treating TMJ disorder can severely impact your quality of life, making enjoyable tasks like eating, speaking, and laughing difficult. Along with creating chronic pain, untreated TMD can put you at risk for several issues, including:
- Permanent lockjaw (a tightening or stiffening of the temporomandibular joint)
- Breakdown of cartilage in the jaw
- Dislocations
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Vertigo (a spinning or dizzy sensation)
- Tooth fractures (TMJ often leads to an imbalance in bite, which can result in worn-down teeth)
- Sleep apnea
- Insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
- Degenerative joint disease (also known as osteoarthritis, breakdown of protective tissues on the bone)
- Arthritis (causes pain when opening the mouth, the inability to open the mouth all the way, and tenderness)
The best option when it comes to these risk factors is to seek out expert care as soon as you notice symptoms of TMJ. Dr. Sulzbach will do his best to help you find a treatment plan that can reduce these risk factors. When you visit The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center, you can be assured that you’re receiving high-quality care with effective solutions for your unique situation.
The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center of Pennsylvania Reviews
Dr. Sulzbach helped me with my sleep apnea and snoring. My wife is so much happier now!
I have had the luck and the pleasure of seeing Dr. Salzbach on several occasions. An extremely knowledgeable and professional, who truly does care about his patients. He takes the time to explain options, procedures to you in a way that you've understand and is very up front. I would highly recommend anytime to anyone.
Dr. Sulzbach and Corrine Lambert were amazing in taking care of my sleep apnea needs. I can’t wait to see how much improvement there is with the new device.
I have sleep apnea and felt awful for years. Just constantly tired. I can't wear the cpap. I tried but I just hate the thing. Dr Steve made a dental appliance and I am sleeping through the night without even snoring for the first time in probably 20 years. He's really laid back but straight to the point.
I have been going to Dr. Steve for years. He is a competent and wonderful dentist. It is a shame what Harrisburg tried to do to him. I guess when they need a scape goat to further their agenda they don't care who they try to hurt in the process. Rest assured he is by far the best dentist I have ever gone to and goes beyond the standard of care!
6
Total Reviews
5
Average Rating
Get In Touch
What Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Treatments Are Available?
During your consultation, Dr. Sulzbach will determine the best course of treatment for your TMJ issues. After reviewing your age, health, medical history, and personal preferences, he'll determine a treatment plan for your case. Treatment options can include:
- TMJ appliances/orthotics: These devices are designed to relax, balance, and correct the position of your lower jaw.
- Trigger point injections: This treatment involves injecting a local anesthetic into a trigger point as a ray to relax your jaw muscles and relieve pain. Sometimes the local anesthetic is combined with steroid medication.
- Prolotherapy: This is an injection therapy where an irritant is injected into the body to jumpstart the natural healing process in your body.
- PRF injections: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) injections are performed to stimulate the body's natural healing properties.
- SphenoCath SPG Block: This treatment delivers a local anesthetic to the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), which is a group of nerves in the back of the nasal passage, to relieve headaches and migraines.
*TMJ surgeries are almost never recommended and have a very poor success rate.
Dr. Sulzbach believes in building strong patient-doctor relationships. He always takes special care to ensure each temporomandibular joint dysfunction treatment plan is tailored to meet the patient’s unique needs. Under his guidance, you’ll find lasting relief from your TMJ symptoms and develop strategies to prevent them from reappearing.
What Can I Expect After TMJ Therapy?
What you can expect after TMJ therapy will vary based on your chosen treatment method However, Dr. Sulzbach will work with you on ways to alleviate pain and symptoms at home. This could include eating softer foods, avoiding gum, putting a heat pack on your jaw, and certain relaxation techniques. Additionally, he may suggest you start doing exercises to strengthen your jaw. He will continue to monitor your TMD during your visits and track the progress of your therapy whenever you return for follow-up visits.
Learn More About Sleep Apnea and TMJ Center
About UsA Personalized Approach to Care
With our effective TMJ treatment, there’s no need to suffer from the negative effects of TMJ disorder. At The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center, we’ll build a personalized treatment plan backed by years of expertise and personal experience to help you find relief.
Schedule your free consultation with sleep and TMJ expert Dr. Stephen Sulzbach at our Reading, PA office or fill out our contact form online below.
TMJ Therapy FAQs
Does insurance cover TMJ therapy?
The coverage for TMJ therapy across insurance providers varies. Some providers don’t cover TMJ therapy, while others impose dollar amount limitations. Dr. Sulzbach and the rest of the team at The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center encourage you to call your provider ahead of time and ask them which costs they can cover.
To help our patients get the treatment they need and the care they deserve, we also offer financing options, including third-party financing from Sunbit and CareCredit. Regardless of your coverage, we’ll work with you to help you find ways to afford your treatment.
What relaxation techniques relieve jaw tension to treat TMJ disorder?
Common relaxation techniques and exercises that may help with TMJ disorder include:
- Stretching exercises
- Rocabado’s 6×6 exercise routine
- Kraus’ TMJ exercises
You can learn more about these techniques by talking to Dr. Sulzbach or by reading up on them at the Colgate website.
How can changing my diet help alleviate my TMJ disorder?
Diet can have a strong impact on your stress levels and your body’s ability to heal, both factors in alleviating or worsening TMJ disorder. You may be able to help alleviate your symptoms by switching to softer foods and foods that are anti-inflammatory such as:
- Soft fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Fish
- Beans
- Healthy fats
- Turmeric
- Ginger
Does TMJ disorder go away on its own?
Everyone is different, which means so is every case. For some patients, their symptoms may alleviate on their own, while for others, the symptoms remain. However, it’s better to get a diagnosis and effective treatment from a professional like Dr. Sulzbach since TMJ that doesn’t do away tends to get worse with time. If you think you may be experiencing TMJ disorder, don’t hesitate to contact our Wyomissing, PA office and schedule an appointment.
