TMJ disorders can cause jaw pain, clicking, headaches, and limited jaw movement — and they can worsen over time without proper care. Conservative and surgical options tailored to your needs.
When your jaw joint and chewing muscles don’t work in harmony.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull, just in front of each ear. These joints work with your chewing muscles every time you talk, eat, and yawn — making them among the most used joints in the body.
A TMJ disorder occurs when the joints, surrounding muscles, or the cartilage disk inside the joint are not functioning properly. The result can range from mild discomfort to chronic pain, jaw locking, and significant functional limitation, which is why early evaluation matters.
We begin with the most conservative options and progress to more involved treatments only when necessary.
Anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants, combined with jaw rest, soft foods, ice and heat, gentle exercises, and stress management.
Injected into the chewing muscles, BOTOX reduces clenching and grinding forces — which may relieve pain within days, with effects typically lasting 3–6 months.
Corticosteroid injections directly into the joint can reduce inflammation and help relieve joint pain.
A custom-fit clear appliance keeps the teeth apart, reduces muscle tension, and protects the joint from grinding and clenching.
Orthodontics or bite adjustment when needed; arthroscopy or open-joint surgery for severe cases that don’t respond to conservative care.
A TMJ evaluation is warranted if you experience:
TMJ treatment takes time and is progressive — adjusted based on your response.
A clinical examination and appropriate imaging evaluate joint anatomy and degenerative changes. Cone Beam CT assesses the bony structures; MRI may be recommended to evaluate the articular disk and other soft tissues.
Medication, self-care, and BOTOX or joint injections when appropriate help relieve muscle spasms and joint pain.
A custom night guard or splint protects the joint and reduces muscle tension, with many patients noticing improvement within weeks.
For severe degeneration, dislocation, or cases that don’t respond, arthroscopy or open-joint surgery at Baylor University Medical Center.
A board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. Trained as a dentist in Colombia, he completed surgical training at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and a fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas — and remains on the faculty of Texas A&M University, so the latest research and techniques go directly into how he treats every patient.
Where Dr. Franco trained as a dentist and earned his surgical foundation.
Surgical training in Chicago.
Fellowship training in Dallas.
Jaw pain, clicking or lockjaw? Schedule a TMJ evaluation. Serving Irving, Mesquite, Ennis, and all of Dallas–Fort Worth. Medicaid accepted. Most insurance plans welcomed.