TMJ Treatment in Tewksbury MA

TMJ and TMD care for jaw pain, clicking and headaches, starting with a full exam

Get Your Jaw Checked Before Anything Permanent Is Done

If your jaw aches, clicks or gives you headaches, our TMJ treatment in Tewksbury starts with finding out why. We’ll walk you through the signs worth checking, how the exam works, and which treatments come first, plus a straight answer on Botox. Most people worry about years of headaches, or a fix they can’t undo. And if clenching goes on long enough, it can wear your teeth down and keep the pain coming back.

Dr. Elaine Wu, DMD completed a rigorous 260-hour advanced training program at the Kois Center in Seattle, WA, becoming a full graduate. That training focuses on how your bite, jaw joints and chewing muscles work together. So your visit to ReNEW Dental starts with finding the cause, not a quick look at your teeth and a guard.

What Are TMJ and TMD, and Why Does Your Jaw Hurt?

TMJ is the jaw joint in front of each ear, and TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is the name for problems with it. Most people say TMJ for both, so we do too. TMD affects about 5% of U.S. adults, and it’s twice as common in women, most often between ages 35 and 44.

TMD pain comes from one of two places, inside the joint or outside it in the muscles and tissue around it. Dr. James Wu notes that most TMD pain starts outside the joint, in the muscles. Clenching, stress, arthritis, a slipped disc and old jaw injuries can all play a part, and many cases ease on their own.

Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, TMD, reviewed September 2026. National Academies, 2020 TMD report, estimating 11.2 to 12.4 million adults.

What Signs Mean You Should Get Your Jaw Checked?

The most common sign is pain in your jaw joint or the chewing muscles around it, and it’s usually what brings people in. Mayo Clinic and federal dental researchers list the others below. Even one is worth getting checked, and if two or three show up together, don’t wait on it.

Pain that spreads to your face or neck
Aching in or around your ear
Pain or trouble when you chew
A stiff jaw, or one that locks open or shut
Clicking or popping that hurts
Headaches that come along with jaw pain
A bite that suddenly feels different

Clicking by itself usually isn’t a problem, since those researchers say painless clicking is common and needs no treatment. Pain is the signal to watch, most of all with locking or a bite change. Bring a note of when each sign started, since the timing helps the exam find what’s behind it.

Phone:
978-451-1500

Address:
1201 Main St.
Tewksbury, MA 01876

Email:
team@mybrandnewsmile.com

Practice Hours

Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 9:00 – 6:00
Wednesday – 9:00 – 6:00
Thursday – 9:00 – 6:00
Friday – 9:00 – 6:00
Saturday – Closed
Sunday – Closed

Dr. Elaine Wu
MA Licence #DN1858598

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How Does a TMJ Exam Work at ReNEW Dental?

A TMJ exam at ReNEW Dental costs $145 and includes 2D or 3D X-rays of your jaw joints. It starts with a detailed history of your symptoms and your daily habits. Dr. Elaine Wu then checks how your teeth meet, how your joints move and how your chewing muscles feel.

If your bite may be the cause, a test splint called a Kois deprogrammer relaxes your jaw muscles so she can test it. Since night grinding sometimes goes along with snoring and sleep apnea, she’ll also ask how you’re sleeping. By the end, you’ll know what’s likely behind your pain.

Which TMJ Treatments Does ReNEW Dental Offer?

ReNEW Dental offers six kinds of TMJ care, and every plan starts with a careful look at your bite, jaw muscles and joints. Most plans begin with options you can undo, because federal dental researchers say to try care you can undo first. The table below shows how they compare, including which ones are permanent.

Treatment	What it does	Can it be undone?	Good to know
Home care, jaw exercises, massage and medicine	Calms sore muscles and swelling	Yes	First step for most people
Day or night occlusal splint	Eases clenching and protects teeth from grinding	Yes	Custom-made from a scan
Sleep appliance	Supports restful sleep to calm muscle activity at night	Yes	Worn during sleep
Botox	Relaxes tired jaw muscles	Wears off in 3 to 6 months	Not FDA-approved for TMD
Laser therapy (PBM)	Eases pain during a flare-up	Yes	Offered with Botox as a package
Bite adjustment	Reshapes how your teeth meet	No	Only after testing confirms a bite problem

Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, TMD, reviewed September 2026. Cleveland Clinic, Botox for TMJ Pain, January 2025. ReNEW Dental treatment notes from Dr. James Wu, November 2026.

Dr. James Wu points out that jaw pain is often labeled as grinding and treated with a night guard right away. In his view, a guard protects your teeth but doesn’t treat the cause. That’s why every plan here starts with the cause, and results vary from person to person once care begins.

When Is Botox or a Bite Adjustment the Right Step?

Botox works best for a painful flare-up, easing the muscles while more testing is done. Cleveland Clinic says Botox for TMJ usually lasts about 3 to 4 months, and our doctors plan for 3 to 6 months between visits. It isn’t FDA-approved for TMD, and for sudden pain it can be paired with laser therapy.

A bite adjustment comes only after testing with the deprogrammer shows your bite is driving the muscle pain. Your bite is then moved to its most relaxed spot, sometimes by polishing teeth and sometimes with aligners plus onlays or dental crowns. Federal researchers warn grinding teeth down for TMD lacks strong proof, so it waits for testing.

Do You Need a TMJ Specialist or Jaw Surgery?

Most jaw pain can start with a dentist who checks your bite and joints. Dr. James Wu, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, says TMD treatment is non-surgical more than 95% of the time, mostly when there’s no past injury. Surgery fits only when there’s true disease inside the joint itself, and results vary.

Orofacial pain became an ADA dental specialty in 2020, and these specialists often treat facial pain that keeps coming back. Dr. James Wu can refer you straight to one at Boston Medical Center. That saves you from hunting for a pain clinic on your own while you’re still in pain every day.

Find Out What’s Behind Your Jaw Pain

Patients come to us from Pinehurst, Patten Green and along Livingston Street. Dr. Elaine Wu was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honors Society. Her Kois training means she looks first and starts with care you can undo. One exam shows what’s driving your jaw pain. Call 978-451-1500 or schedule an evaluation to get started. If cost is on your mind, our guide to what TMJ treatment costs covers splints and insurance.

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Get Started in 4 Easy Steps

Every visit starts with listening, so you understand your options before any treatment begins. Our team will answer your first questions, and Dr. Elaine Wu will talk through every concern with you in person.

Schedule

Call us or book online at a time that works for you.

Consultation

Meet with Dr. Elaine Wu for a careful exam and an honest conversation.

Diagnosis

Learn what she found and what it means for your teeth and gums.

Treatment Plan

Get a clear plan built around your needs, your timeline and your budget.

Questions Tewksbury Patients Ask About TMJ

Can depression be a symptom of TMJ?

Depression isn’t a TMJ symptom, but the two can show up together. The National Academies’ 2020 report on TMDs describes how this pain and its suffering take a terrible toll on the people who live with it. If low mood has come with your jaw pain, mention it at your exam, since treating the pain and getting support can both help.

What should you avoid if you have TMJ?

Avoid habits that make your jaw work harder than it needs to. Cleveland Clinic ties TMJ problems to chewing on pens, ice or nails, and to taking large bites. Small changes like these can often calm a mild flare-up on their own.

What are some ways to help someone with TMJ?

Small, everyday changes can take a lot of strain off a sore jaw. Northwestern Medicine suggests soft foods, an ice pack or moist heat for 10 to 20 minutes, and skipping gum, nuts and popcorn. Supporting the jaw with a fist when yawning helps too. If the pain doesn’t ease, a dental exam is the next step.

What is the relationship between TMJ and stress?

Stress can feed TMJ pain, often as daytime clenching or grinding at night. NIDCR notes life stress may play a part in whether TMD develops and how long it lasts. Breathing exercises and counseling can help break that cycle, and a splint can protect your teeth from chipping while you work on it.

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How Much Does TMJ Treatment Cost

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The information on this page is provided to help you understand general dental care and the preventive services we offer. It’s not a substitute for professional diagnosis or individualized treatment. Every patient’s needs are different, and your dentist will evaluate your oral health before recommending any specific care or procedure. (For personalized guidance, please schedule an appointment with our licensed dental professional.)