TMJ Disorders (TMD)

Are you experiencing TMJ pain? Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and TMJ syndrome are painful conditions that affect everything from your jaw to migraine headaches and muscle fatigue through your neck and back. Some people never realize there’s something wrong with their jaw until chronic pain is an everyday part of their life. 


Dr. Phillips has worked with thousands of patients to help overcome their jaw pain and TMJ disorder. Her extensive training and knowledge of TMD allows us to provide holistic and effective therapies for patients of all ages and backgrounds. 

Illustrated diagram of human skull focusing on chronic jaw pain caused by TMJ.

What is TMJ?

“TMJ” is an acronym for the temporomandibular joint. TMJ is an anatomical orthopedic joint, just like any other joint in your body. The key to the health of any joint, including this one, is lubrication. Most disorders of the TMJ are related to the lack of lubrication in the joint space. It is susceptible to the same problems as all your joints. Disorders of the TMJ are medical problems that require mainstream medical orthopedic treatments like orthotics, medications and physical therapy.

Although some people can effectively manage the symptoms of their TMD at home, most DIY therapies simply mask the cause of the pain. To effectively prevent discomfort from returning or the condition getting worse, a specialist should be consulted. 

Untreated TMJ disorder can contribute to long term damage of the internal joint structures, and muscles. It can also cause your teeth and existing dental work to wear down, because of how it prevents your bite from functioning properly while you’re chewing food. 

So what’s the difference between “TMJ?” and “TMD”?

TMJ has been used by many people through the years to actually describe TMD, which is an acronym for temporomandibular disorder (sometimes mistakenly called tmj disease). However, there is a difference between the two. TMD describes many symptoms related to the jaw and supporting structures. TMD can include TMJ problems, as well as muscle pain, headaches and other types of facial pain. This disorder is a subgroup of orofacial pain that include many different types of pain in the head and neck. 

Yes, everyone has a TMJ, but not everyone has TMJ disorder (TMD.) As with other joints throughout your body that you rely on daily, if your TMJ is out of balance it can lead to lifestyle changes and chronic pain. If severe enough, it can even alter your diet. 

So, when you hear someone say, “I have TMJ,” you know what they really mean is they have TMD, or TMJ disorder. What you might not know though, is that many other symptoms you may be experiencing could actually be linked with TMJ irregularities without you realizing it. 

TMD Symptoms

Sleeping disorders are often related to other underlying health or anatomical issues, resulting in poor breathing or collapse of the airway when you sleep. 


Certain types of sleeping disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are due to anatomical obstruction of your airway while soft tissues at the back of your mouth collapse against the throat. This can be an inherited risk factor or due to something like weight gain. It may be a condition that’s developed over time, even if it wasn’t a problem during childhood. 


Most people will tell you that the signs of sleep apnea and sleep disorders involve chronic snoring and when you have difficulty sleeping through the night. While you may not be aware of all the symptoms, your family and/or roommates likely will.


Other signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

  •  Depression or irritability
  • Large neck circumference
  • TMJ disorder/TMD or jaw pain
  • Drowsiness and daytime fatigue
  • Migraines, headaches
  • Weight gain
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Gasping for breath or an extended pause in breathing *


 *ask your sleep partner


While managing underlying health concerns may improve your lifestyle, they will not treat the sleep apnea causes that are contributing to them. You should talk to a sleep physician or healthcare provider immediately if you suspect that a sleep disorder may be to blame for your condition; it could save your life!


Take the first step toward sleep apnea relief and schedule a sleep apnea screening with your physician today. If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea and need an alternative to CPAP, or if you need help figuring out where to start, please contact a sleep apnea specialist like Dr. Phillips.

Learn More About TMD Symptoms

TMJ Pain Treatment Options

Fortunately, most TMJ treatments are non-surgical! Many of them require only brief visits with our TMD specialist and are implemented in the convenience of your own home. 

Our main goal is to relieve your TMJ pain and help you finally get comfortable again. The doctor’s job is to identify all the risk factors driving this degeneration and treat them appropriately. Most of the time it is over-activity of the clenching muscles; so the treatment sequence is usually designed to deal with whatever is driving those muscles. 

We provide this through recommended stretches, exercises, learning resources, and topical medicines to name a few. medication, physical therapy, behavioral modification and orthopedic appliances are all used in combination or alone (depending on the etiology ) to achieve good function and decrease pain.

While the treatment usually entails an orthotic (splint), which is designed to relax these muscles, the actual cause of the muscle activity will need to be addressed in order to give long-lasting relief of this disorder. This can involve recommending surgery although this is not usually the case for most patients. 

By correcting the alignment of your upper and lower jaws, we can create a harmonious relationship that allows your TMJ to function more efficiently, thus reducing muscle strain and joint fatigue. 

In some cases, medication such as muscle relaxers can jump-start the process. If you are being fitted with a bite splint to re-train your mouth and treat conditions such as bruxism (clenching and grinding,) specific prescriptions can help us in achieving a harmonious balance that reduces tension throughout the TMJ, face, head, neck, and shoulders. 
Learn More About TMD Treatment

 Answering Your TMJ / TMD Related Questions

  • Does TMD cause my headaches?

    It could be one possible contributing factor, but there are many causes for headaches. The contracture of the facial muscles can produce a headache cycle that is sometimes difficult to stop. TMD is one possible cause of headaches, or it might be the effect of other contributing factors, such as migraine. If you continually suffer headaches, chances are that you are also developing a clenching habit that can put undue stress on the temporomandibular joint. Being fitted with a bite splint can help to train your TMJ and jaw muscles to relax, reducing the strain placed on them throughout the day. If you have an incredibly stressful lifestyle, let our TMJ specialist know. 

  • My jaw only clicks, but I have no pain. Can it get worse?

    Clicking may or may not be a symptom of a future problem. If occasional, with no pain, it may not present a future issue. The key here is whether there is a progression of clicking, changes in the click intensity or frequency or if it has just started. However, if it clicks every time you chew or opens your mouth or changes in nature, it may be an early symptom of a more severe problem. You should consult your dentist before it progresses to a locked jaw. Most healthy joints do not make clicking noises each time they’re used. Watch for other sounds, such as popping or grinding. 

  • What causes locked jaw?

    In rare situations, internal joint damage to your TMJ can destroy the tissues that allow it to glide back and forth. This can lead to the disc slipping or even being worn down. As a result, some people experience very alarming situations where their mouth becomes locked in place — either opened or closed — and may need to manually reposition on their own, with the help of a TMJ specialist, or make a trip to the emergency room. 

  • Does Dr. Phillips accept my insurance? Or is she a participating provider on my insurance plan?

    Even though Dr. Phillips is not a participating provider on your medical insurance plan, we will assist you in filing your medical insurance claims and provide you with all the documentation required to process your claim. We will help you receive all the benefits of your particular insurance plan by providing letters and various other documentation of your specific situation directly to your carrier to help you minimize any out-of-pocket expenses. 




    Depending on the type of TMJ treatment you’re receiving, your therapies may be covered by either your medical or your dental coverage. As an out of network provider, we can file claims on your behalf to either. Plus, flexible payment options are available to fit your budget!

  • What kind of doctor is Dr. Phillips?

    Dr. Phillips is a dentist who has obtained her Master of Science degree In Orofacial Pain. She is also a member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and is seeking her Board Certification. While orofacial pain is still a proposed specialty of the American Dental Association, this board exam will be the basis of all certifications requiring two years of residency. Therefore, she no longer practices general dentistry, as she has focused on diagnosing and treating facial pain, headaches, TMD & Sleep Disorders.

We're At Your Service

Are you looking for a dentist who is a specialist when it comes to treating patients with TMJ disorder? Dr. Phillips of Restore TMJ is one of the most experienced TMD providers in The Woodlands and greater Houston area. In the past decade, we’ve cared for more than 5,000 patients throughout Conroe, Cypress, Spring, and the Gulf Coast. 

Schedule your TMJ evaluation today to learn more about living life pain free. We’re here to help!