TMJ/TMD Treatment – FarrowOrtho-ACF

Relief Starts With Understanding the Cause

Jaw pain, clicking, headaches, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth can make everyday activities like eating, speaking, and sleeping uncomfortable.

Temporomandibular joint disorders, often called TMD, affect the jaw joints and surrounding muscles. Because every case is different, Dr. Farrow takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating your bite, jaw function, and overall oral structures before recommending treatment.

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What Is TMD?

When Your Jaw Joint Is Not Working Comfortably

Your temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, connect your lower jaw to your skull and allow your jaw to move when you speak, chew, and yawn.

TMD is a general term for conditions that affect these joints, the muscles around them, or the way the jaw functions. Symptoms can range from occasional discomfort to persistent pain that interferes with daily life.

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Common Signs of TMD

Your Jaw May Be Telling You Something

TMD can look different from one patient to another. Some symptoms are felt directly in the jaw, while others may be experienced in nearby areas of the face, head, or neck.

Common symptoms can include:

Jaw pain or tenderness
Clicking or popping in the jaw
Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
Jaw locking or limited movement
Pain while chewing
Frequent headaches
Facial discomfort
Ear-area discomfort
Muscle tension around the jaw
Changes in how the teeth come together

Having one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have TMD, which is why a thorough evaluation is important.

What Causes TMD?

There Is Not Always One Simple Answer

TMD can have several possible contributing factors, and the cause is not always obvious. Jaw joint health can be influenced by the muscles, bite, joint structure, habits, previous injury, and other individual factors.

Dr. Farrow evaluates how your teeth fit together and how your jaws function to better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms. If your concerns fall outside the scope of orthodontic treatment, she can also help guide you toward the appropriate provider for additional evaluation.

How We Evaluate TMJ Concerns

Looking at the Whole Picture

A careful evaluation is the first step toward understanding what may be causing your discomfort.

Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Farrow may evaluate:

Your bite and tooth alignment
Jaw movement and range of motion
Areas of tenderness or discomfort
How the upper and lower jaws relate
Signs of tooth wear or clenching
Facial and jaw symmetry
Relevant imaging when appropriate

This information helps determine whether orthodontic care may play a role in your treatment plan or whether another type of care would be more appropriate.

Personalized Treatment Options

Care Based on Your Specific Needs

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for TMD. The right approach depends on your symptoms, their cause, and how your jaw is functioning.

Treatment recommendations may focus on improving comfort, supporting healthier jaw function, or addressing orthodontic concerns that may be contributing to the problem. In some cases, Dr. Farrow may recommend working with other dental or medical professionals as part of a coordinated approach.

The goal is always to recommend the most appropriate care for your individual situation.

Why Orthodontic Evaluation Matters

Your Bite Is Part of the Bigger Picture

The way your teeth and jaws come together is one part of overall jaw function. For some patients, orthodontic concerns may be relevant when evaluating discomfort or changes in the bite.

As a board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Farrow has specialized training in tooth movement, bite relationships, and facial development. She will carefully evaluate whether orthodontic treatment could play a role in your care rather than assuming braces or aligners are automatically the answer.