Home care should implemented by patient early on in the pain/discomfort period. Home care or conservative therapies are tools that can be implemented quickly in sequence of discomfort. On weak pain (short term), the weak home therapies can be effective on muscle based discomfort or mild damage TMJ.

FLARE DISCOMFORT in chewing system:

1. conservative therapy for 3-5 days
2. Utilization of Ibuprofen for week or two
3. Wear appliance night
4. Seek dentist consultation if pain persist
5. Seek OROFACIAL PAIN SPECIALIST if pain intense or frequent

Insurance company's policies require trial of home care therapies before referral to OROFACIAL PAIN SPECIALIST.

Home therapies for mild jaw joint damage:

1. Avoid chewing gum
2. Hot compress muscles
3. Low chew diet (soft diet)
4. Massage jaw muscle
5. Ibuprofen 3-4 per day
6. Relax-quiet time-relax-prayer
7. Wear appliance nightly
8. Avoid opening wide
9. No open mouth procedure (dental care)
10. Avoid opening wide-yawning
11. Chew both sides
12. Reduce sugar & stimulants
13. Reduce stress & anxiety

Level of damage vs. type appliance

1. Muscle discomfort = soft bite guard
2. Episodic Mild pain =Hybrid
3. Frequent mild to mod pain = Nightguard
4. Moderate to Severe pain = Orthotic

Higher level of pain, the more frequent pain, or more damage TMJ, the more skills and training a dentist needs on appliances to reduce pain of chewing system dysfunction.

Confusion in terms: Conservative Therapies vs Home care:

1. Oral Surgeons in past used "conservative therapies" incorrectly
2. What oral surgeons were implying is home therapies
3. Surgeons justified need for surgery by telling insurance company, "Failed Conservative Therapy"
4. Science based "conservative therapies" implies chewing system orthopedic team( PT, Bio, orthotic, Patient)
5. Surgery is indicated when chewing system orthopedics does not reduce symptoms to acceptable level
6. Today, rarely does chewing system orthopedics not satisfy needs patient; so that, surgery is avoid