- 8285 Jericho Turnpike Suite 3C, Woodbury, NY 11797
If you are living with jaw pain, persistent headaches, or clicking joint sounds, specialized care can provide long-term relief. Dr. Lynna Pillai, DMD offers comprehensive, non-surgical TMJ treatment at her Woodbury, NY practice. Serving patients across Long Island, including Syosset, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Melville, and Plainview, Dr. Pillai combines advanced diagnostic evaluations with custom oral appliances like NTI night guards and targeted therapies to relieve jaw pain, stop teeth grinding (bruxism), and restore bite harmony.
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With 15 years of experience, we are equipped to provide efficient, safe, and reliable dental care. Check out more about our dentist, Dr. Lynna Pillai DMD here.
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Our advanced technology can enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment precision – leading to better patient outcomes, reduced discomfort, and better communication.
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We aim to foster trust with you as our patient, which enables you to actively participate in your overall dental health journey.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is a medical and dental condition affecting the two joints connecting your lower jaw (mandible) to your temporal skull bones. These complex sliding-hinge joints control everyday movements like chewing, speaking, and yawning. TMD occurs when inflammation, joint misalignment, jaw muscle strain, or disk displacement interferes with normal joint function.
Teeth Grinding & Clenching (Bruxism): Habitual nighttime clenching puts excessive force on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
Stress & Muscle Tension: Involuntary contraction of facial and jaw muscles during stress.
Bite Misalignment (Malocclusion): Uneven contact between upper and lower teeth creates improper stress distribution across the jaw.
Joint Trauma or Injury: Direct impacts to the jaw, neck, or head that displace the articular disk.
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis causing cartilage degradation inside the jaw joint.
TMJ disorder symptoms extend beyond the jaw joint itself and frequently manifest as chronic facial pain, ear aches, or recurring morning tension headaches.
Jaw Joint Discomfort: Pain or tenderness in one or both temporomandibular joints.
Clicking, Popping, or Grating: Audible or felt popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth.
Restricted Jaw Movement (Lockjaw): Inability to open the mouth fully or a jaw that gets stuck in an open/closed position.
Unexplained Headaches & Ear Pain: Tension headaches starting at the temples, aching behind the eyes, or earaches without an ear infection.
Chewing Fatigue or Pain: Discomfort while chewing hard or chewy foods, or feeling like your bite is out of alignment.
Facial & Neck Tension: Soreness across the cheeks, neck, shoulders, and upper back.
TMJ disorders are progressive conditions that typically develop across four distinct stages if left untreated:
Stage 1 (Early Stage): Occasional jaw tightness, mild clicking without pain, and minor muscle fatigue after long periods of speaking or chewing.
Stage 2 (Moderate Stage): Frequent joint popping, recurring tension headaches, morning jaw stiffness, and early signs of tooth wear from grinding.
Stage 3 (Advanced Stage): Severe, chronic jaw and facial pain, restricted mouth opening (intermittent lockjaw), ear pain, and pronounced enamel erosion.
Stage 4 (Severe/Degenerative Stage): Persistent lockjaw, continuous debilitating pain, structural joint damage, osteoarthritis inside the joint, and difficulty eating solid foods. Early conservative treatment prevents progression to Stage 4.
Dr. Lynna Pillai focuses on custom, non-invasive, conservative therapies designed to address the root cause of jaw pain and protect your teeth from damage.
1. Custom NTI-tss Night Guards
The NTI-tss (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition) appliance is a small, custom-fitted dental device worn over the front teeth while sleeping. Unlike full-coverage plastic guards, the NTI prevents the back teeth from touching, reducing muscle clenching intensity by up to 70%. It is highly effective for reducing severe migraine pain, tension headaches, and jaw fatigue.
2. Full-Arch Custom Night Guards & Splints
Custom-designed acrylic appliances worn on upper or lower arches protect tooth enamel from bruxism while holding the jaw in a relaxed, neutral position overnight.
3. Therapeutic Botox® for TMJ & Masseter Muscle Relief
Injected directly into hyperactive masseter and temporal muscles, Botox® temporarily relaxes overworked jaw muscles. This reduces clenching force, slims enlarged masseter muscles, and relieves chronic jaw tension without affecting your ability to speak or eat.
4. Occlusal Adjustments & Bite Alignment
Minor modification of uneven tooth surfaces ensures proper contact between upper and lower arches, relieving unnatural stress placed on the temporomandibular joints.
Yes, a regular dentist can often diagnose and treat TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. Dentists can provide treatments such as custom oral appliances like splints or mouthguards to alleviate TMJ symptoms, prescribe pain meds, or recommend lifestyle changes. For more complex cases. Dentists may refer you to a specialist, like a TMJ specialist, for further evaluation and treatment. It depends on the severity and complexity of the TMJ disorder.
What your TMJ treatment ends up costing can depend on several factors. What is causing your TMJ pain can have an impact on how much your treatment costs.
If you only need a mouthguard, then it will be relatively inexpensive. Medication is also a lower-cost way of treating a TMJ disorder.
If your TMJ dentist is more experienced and has extra training, then your treatment may cost more as well.
If your TMJ disorder requires mouth reconstruction or jaw surgery, then you can expect to pay up to $50,000.
Insurance coverage for TMJ treatment varies depending on your specific health and dental insurance plans. While routine dental insurance may cover diagnostic exams or custom night guards under bruxism benefits, medical insurance occasionally covers TMJ evaluations or therapeutic procedures when deemed medically necessary.
These may exacerbate TMJ symptoms and make the condition worse:
Dr. Lynna Pillai, in Long Island, can guide effective TMJ treatments and strategies for symptom relief.
TMJ disorder outcomes vary. Many experience symptom improvement or resolution with treatment and self-care, while others may have intermittent flare-ups. Long-term relief is possible for some but not guaranteed, as TMJ is a chronic condition. Early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and consistent self-care are crucial for effective management. Collaboration with healthcare professionals or TMJ specialists can help individuals find relief and enhance their quality of life. TMJ symptoms can improve, but complete resolution may not occur for everyone.
The duration of TMJ treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition. Some patients experience relief within a few weeks, while others may require ongoing care to fully resolve symptoms.
If you do not see your insurance provider listed, please contact us.
Unfortunately we do not accept Medicaid, Healthplex, HMO, DMO and some other dental insurances.
