Finding Relief Without Surgery: Shannon’s TMJ Treatment Journey with Dr. TJ Robbins

After struggling for years with temporomandibular joint disorder, Shannon finally experienced improvement through a customized, non-surgical treatment approach at Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery.

Before treatment, daily life was significantly affected; eating, speaking, and even simple time with family were difficult due to persistent jaw, head, and neck pain.

Like many patients with chronic TMJ symptoms, she had tried several therapies without lasting relief before being referred to CCOFS for specialized care.

When TMJ Pain Begins to Affect Daily Life

TMJ disorders are often more complex than occasional jaw clicking or soreness. For some patients, symptoms progress into a chronic pain condition involving the jaw joints, facial muscles, head, and neck.

In Shannon’s case, symptoms became severe enough to interfere with normal daily function.

“I could hardly speak or eat without trouble. The chronic pain made it difficult to spend time with family, work, or even function.”

She had previously tried common approaches such as over-the-counter night guards and jaw exercises, but her symptoms continued to worsen.

Eventually, surgical evaluation was considered. However, due to an allergy to prosthetic materials, joint replacement surgery was not an option.

This made a conservative, non-surgical approach the most appropriate next step.

A Customized TMJ Care Plan with Dr. TJ Robbins

Because TMJ disorders can be caused by multiple overlapping factors, like muscle tension, joint inflammation, bite imbalance, and chronic pain patterns, treatment must be individualized.

At CCOFS, Dr. TJ Robbins, an orofacial pain specialist in Raleigh, NC, takes a comprehensive diagnostic approach to understand the full picture of each patient’s condition.

“When patients come to us, we take a deep dive to better understand all contributing factors,” Dr. Robbins explains.

For Shannon, this led to a tailored treatment plan designed to reduce pain, improve jaw function, and support long-term stability.

Custom TMJ Mouth Guard

Dr. Robbins designed a custom TMJ mouth guard for Shannon’s bite and jaw position to reduce joint pressure, limit clenching and grinding, and support a more stable resting position.

The appliance also helped protect irritated tissues while her joints and muscles recovered.

Medications for Pain and Inflammation Management

Medications were incorporated to help reduce inflammation, calm irritated muscles, and manage chronic pain symptoms that were affecting Shannon’s daily life.

For patients with symptoms extending beyond the jaw, medication can help interrupt the pain cycle and make other parts of treatment easier to tolerate.

Botox Injections for Muscle Tension Relief

Botox® injections were used to target overactive jaw muscles, contributing to Shannon’s pain and dysfunction.

By reducing overactive muscle contractions, Botox can ease jaw tension, headaches, facial pain, and stress on the joints.

For Shannon, reducing that constant muscle strain was an important part of improving comfort and restoring function.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections were used to address painful knots and areas of muscle spasm in the jaw, face, neck, and surrounding muscles.

These injections helped address muscle spasms and referred pain that were contributing to jaw stiffness and discomfort.

Self-Care and Lifestyle Modifications

Self-care strategies were another key component of Shannon’s treatment plan. TMJ disorders are often influenced by daily habits, stress levels, posture, sleep quality, and repetitive jaw strain.

Dr. Robbins worked with Shannon on ways to reduce unnecessary stress on the jaw joints and muscles throughout the day. This included guidance on avoiding behaviors that aggravate TMJ symptoms, managing flare-ups at home, and supporting long-term symptom control between visits.

A Custom Diet to Reduce Jaw Strain

Because chewing can place significant stress on inflamed TMJ joints and muscles, Shannon was also placed on a customized diet designed to minimize strain during healing.

Avoiding hard or chewy foods helped reduce irritation while maintaining nutrition during recovery.

Combined with her other treatments, these adjustments helped support healing and improve day-to-day comfort.

Why Conservative TMJ Treatment Is Often Recommended First

At CCOFS, conservative treatment is often the first step in managing TMJ disorders because many patients can achieve lasting relief without surgery.

Conservative TMJ treatment focuses on reducing stress on the joints and muscles while improving overall function and comfort. Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment may involve oral appliances, medications, physical therapy, injections, lifestyle modifications, or a combination of treatments.

The Importance of Specialized Orofacial Pain Care

TMJ disorders are complex conditions that can involve the jaw joints, facial muscles, nerves, bite function, and surrounding structures. Because of this, patients with chronic or severe symptoms often benefit from treatment by an orofacial pain specialist.

Dr. TJ Robbins focuses on diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders, chronic facial pain, headaches, neuropathic pain, and related conditions using evidence-based, conservative therapies.

“Dr. Robbins is my hero,” she said. “Without him and the team at CCOFS, I would still be struggling.”

From Daily Pain to Enjoying Life Again

Today, Shannon says she is finally able to enjoy the moments that chronic pain once made difficult.

“Because of Dr. Robbins and the care I received at CCOFS, I can laugh with my husband and enjoy life,” she shared.

Her story is a reminder that TMJ disorders can significantly impact both physical health and emotional well-being, but with the right diagnosis and treatment plan, patients can find meaningful relief.

She also encourages others not to wait too long before seeking expert care.

“It can be hard to transition to a new practice after so many attempts at finding lasting relief, but I’m glad I did,” she said. “If you suffer from TMJ symptoms like me, don’t wait until it becomes more painful or costly.”

Expert TMJ Care at CCOFS

At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, patients have access to advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment planning, and a full spectrum of TMJ care options, from conservative treatment to TMJ surgery when necessary.

If jaw pain, headaches, facial tension, or difficulty chewing or speaking are affecting your daily life, an early evaluation at CCOFS can help identify the cause, outline appropriate treatment options, and improve your chances of meaningful relief before symptoms worsen. With 22 locations across North and South Carolina, including Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greenville, patients can access expert TMJ care close to home.

Watch Shannon share how personalized TMJ care with Dr. TJ Robbins helped her find meaningful relief after years of chronic jaw pain.