CMD: What are the different treatment options?

Craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) is a complex disorder that can greatly affect the lives of those affected. CMD can, for example, have a negative influence on the sleeping behaviour, chewing and speaking of sufferers. Craniomandibular dysfunction can cause consequences such as headaches, facial pain, ringing in the ears, teeth grinding, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, earaches and also neck and back pain. This can make everyday tasks such as working, sitting or standing for long periods of time and even speaking and swallowing a real challenge for sufferers. 

Fortunately, there are treatments available to alleviate the symptoms of CMD. In some cases, people are advised to have surgery, which can be very expensive. But is surgery really necessary and are there other treatment options? In this article, we present different treatment options for craniomandibular dysfunction to give you an overview of your options. 

How can CMD be treated?

1. treatment by a dentist

If you have been diagnosed with craniomandibular dysfunction, your dentist can either refer you to a craniomandibular dysfunction specialist or treat you themselves as a first step. To prevent teeth grinding and associated damage to the teeth, enamel and gums, your dentist or orthodontist can make you a bite splint to prevent teeth grinding. 

2. treatment by a physiotherapist

Patients suffering from CMD often also suffer with symptoms such as jaw pain, Back pain and head and neck pain. In order to alleviate these symptoms and Reduce pain As a person affected, you should consult a Physiotherapists see me. As a physiotherapist, I am very familiar with craniomandibular dysfunctions and have treated several CMD patients. My goal is to help you through treatments such as manual therapy to relieve tension in the jaw joint and in the neck and shoulder area and to alleviate my patients' pain. During treatment, I am in constant communication with your dentist to achieve the best possible treatment success and improve your quality of life in the long term. 

3. minimally invasive methods

If your pain is very severe, then there is the possibility of cleaning your temporomandibular joint spaces with rinses to counteract inflammation and promote healing in the joint space. Also, anti-inflammatory or painkilling medications can be instilled directly into the temporomandibular joint as they work faster there. However, before considering this treatment, you should first try it without medication, as medication often relieves pain but cannot address the cause in the long run. 

4. treatment by surgery

If none of the above treatments work, then there is the possibility of treating the temporomandibular joint or the related structures surgically. However, surgery is only recommended in rare cases when treatment by the dentist and physiotherapist has no effect.

These are some of the treatment methods of a Craniomandibular dysfunction. If you would like to know how the treatment of CMD is carried out in collaboration between dentists and our Physiotherapy practice then you are also welcome to read the article "CMD therapy: collaboration between physiotherapist and dentist".

Do you have questions about CMD or would you like to get your craniomandibular dysfunction under control in the long term? Then feel free to call or make an appointment directly at our physiotherapy practice. I will be happy to help you release your tension and relieve your pain and show you exercises that can also help you relieve your pain in the long term.

Your Benjamin Körtner