TMJ Disorder Treatment in Princeton and Flemington, NJ
Relief from Jaw Pain and Dysfunction
TMJ disorders are a family of complex problems related to your temporomandibular joint, the intricate hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. When this joint is not functioning properly, it can lead to significant pain and discomfort that can affect your quality of life.
At West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery, our board-certified oral surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of TMJ disorders, creating personalized plans to provide you with lasting relief.
Do You Have A TMJ Disorder? A Self-Assessment
Problems with the jaw joint can manifest in a variety of ways. Consider the following questions to help determine if you should seek a professional diagnosis:
- Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?
- Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?
- Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches?
- Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth?
- Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat, or yawn?
- Have you ever injured your neck, head, or jaws?
- Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
If you answered “yes” to several of these questions, it is likely that you have a TMJ disorder. An evaluation with our surgeons can confirm a diagnosis.
Our Conservative Treatment Philosophy
No single treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely, and effective care takes time. Our surgeons believe in a team approach, combining professional care with patient self-care to achieve the best results. Our initial goals are always to relieve muscle spasm and joint pain using the most conservative and reversible treatments first.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
The vast majority of patients find significant relief without the need for surgery. Your personalized plan may include a combination of the following:
Self-Care and Medication
We will often recommend simple self-care treatments, including resting your jaw, eating soft foods, applying ice and heat, and performing specific jaw exercises. To manage pain and inflammation, we may also prescribe pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, or muscle relaxants.
Custom Oral Splints and Nightguards
A temporary, clear plastic appliance known as a splint or nightguard is a very common and effective treatment. These custom-fitted appliances fit over your top or bottom teeth to keep them apart, which helps the muscles relax and reduces pain. Different appliances are used for different purposes, from a nightguard that reduces clenching and grinding to an appliance that helps reposition the jaw.
TMJ Surgery
We do not consider TMJ surgery unless a patient’s jaw cannot open, is dislocated, has severe degeneration, or has unsuccessfully undergone appliance treatment. Should surgery be necessary, our surgeons are skilled in a range of procedures, from arthroscopy to open joint repair, and will discuss the best option for your specific condition.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with TMJ Surgery and other procedures.
"Hi, I'm Adam, and I'm from Lambertville, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for wisdom teeth removal and a gum graft. The staff was bubbly, energetic, and there to support you. The doctors here are absolutely amazing. They make you feel comfortable, always there to answer questions. Great bedside manners. My procedure went great for both of them. It was probably a day or two recovery, and I was back in action. My quality of life has definitely improved when I have a good smile, makes me more confident meeting other people. Overall experience here was great. I would a hundred percent recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Bill from Flemington, and I came to West Jersey Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for several extractions and dental implants. When I first came into the practice, it felt very welcoming, warm—people were very friendly. The staff here, very professional. The doctor was very empathetic, fully explained what was gonna happen, and during the procedures, actually kept me up to date on what he was doing. The procedures I had done, the extractions as well as the implants, went extremely well. My experience was nurturing, caring. To all my friends in Somerset County, Flemington, and Somerville, I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I am Bill. I'm from Fort Good River and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for a dental implant. When I first walked into the practice, I was greeted very warmly. Everyone was very nice to me. The staff was very attentive, and my doctor was very informative, went over everything that he was going to do, made sure that I didn't have any questions, and that I was very comfortable. My procedure went very well. My quality of life has improved because I can actually chew as if it was my original tooth. My overall experience was very good. I would absolutely recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to anyone who is really interested in having a good outcome."
"Hi, I'm Gabby from Califon and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I felt super at ease. There were lots of smiles and friendly faces. It was a great place to be. My doctor was super nice, and when he walked in the room, he introduced himself with the biggest smile on his face, and he told me about the procedure and just really put me at ease. The procedure went so well, and the recovery was easy and smooth. I'm so happy to have a healthy smile. To all my friends and family in Somerset County, Flemington and Somerville. I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Jimmy from Lebanon Township and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I felt at home. Everybody was welcoming, greeted me with smiles and good customer service. Everybody was charismatic and caring. My doctor was very professional, super friendly, and put me at ease before my procedure and answered any questions I had brought to him. My procedure went well. I had practically no time between me finishing my procedure and when I was able to get back to work. Having a healthy smile is really important to me. Out of five stars, I would rate this practice five stars. I would highly recommend people to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Kait from Madison, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for an implant. When I first walked in, I just felt incredibly welcome and at ease. The staff was really accommodating. My doctor is incredibly kind, very open-minded, and empathetic. My procedures went very well. After the procedures, I am very happy. I feel a lot more confident about my smile and ultimately just feel really happy that I have a care team that I know I can rely on. I would happily recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to friends, family that just really put you at the front as the patient, and it's an excellent experience."
"Hi, I'm Karen from Readington. I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for a dental implant. When I first walked into the practice, I felt very comfortable. Everybody was welcoming, and they reassured me that everything was going to be fine. My doctor was very good. He explained everything to me, the procedure that was going to be done. He also just made sure I was comfortable. My procedure went very well. The overall experience of this practice was fantastic. It was very important to me to have a healthy smile. I would highly recommend this practice to anybody."
"Hi, I'm Lianna from Lambertville, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for an extraction, bone graft, and dental implant. The staff is extremely friendly and comforting and made me feel at ease. My doctor was extremely careful and caring. He was very gentle and made sure that I was feeling comfortable. My procedures went very well, and recovery was very smooth. My overall experience with this practice was extremely positive. I would absolutely recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery. I felt very welcomed and comfortable going into the multiple surgeries that I was going to have."
"Hi. I am Luke from Phillipsburg, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for an extraction. The doctors here were great. They made me feel comfortable. They were easy to talk to, they're real friendly. My procedure went great. It was quick. It was easy, and the recovery was simple. My overall experience here was fantastic. To all my friends and family in Somerset County, Flemington and Somerville. I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule Your Consultation
The first step toward resolving your oral health concerns is a personal consultation with one of our board-certified oral surgeons. Contact our Princeton or Flemington office today to schedule your appointment with our expert team and experience our compassionate, patient-first approach to care.