Effective TMJ Treatment Starts with Getting the Diagnosis Right
The single biggest reason TMJ treatments fail is misdiagnosis. A patient with disc displacement without reduction does not respond to the same treatment as a patient with myofascial pain. A patient with degenerative joint disease needs a different approach than a patient with muscle-driven clenching. And a patient with neuropathic orofacial pain can be misdiagnosed as TMD entirely, leading to months or years of ineffective treatment. At Aloha Dental Specialty Center, we use the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) — the internationally recognized classification system — to identify your specific TMD subtype before recommending any treatment.
Your diagnostic evaluation includes: a detailed history of symptoms, onset, aggravating and relieving factors, and prior treatments; measurement of maximum opening, lateral excursion, and protrusive movement; palpation of 16 masticatory and cervical muscle sites bilaterally; auscultation and palpation of both TMJ joints for sounds and tenderness; occlusal analysis; and CBCT 3D imaging of both condyles and fossae to assess bony morphology, joint space, and degenerative changes. This systematic protocol takes 60 to 90 minutes and produces a specific diagnosis — not a vague label of "TMJ."
Once we establish your diagnosis, we explain it clearly: what is happening anatomically, why it is causing your symptoms, what the natural progression looks like without treatment, and what evidence-based treatment options exist. If additional imaging is needed — such as MRI for disc position assessment — we will explain why and coordinate the referral. Our goal is to arm you with a clear understanding of your condition so you can make informed decisions about your treatment.
Serving Beaverton, Aloha, Hillsboro & Washington County
Aloha Dental Specialty Center is located at 18455 SW Alexander St, Suite B, in Beaverton, Or Oregon. We serve patients from across the Tualatin Valley and greater Portland metro, including Aloha, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, and Tualatin. Our Beaverton office is a 5-minute drive from Aloha, 10 minutes from Hillsboro, and 15 minutes from Tigard via SW 185th Avenue.
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Intel Campuses (Ronler Acres & Jones Farm)
10 to 15 minutes via NW 185th Ave. We accommodate the schedules of tech professionals who need efficient, high-quality specialty care.
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Nike World Headquarters
About 8 minutes via SW Baseline Rd. We frequently see patients from the Nike campus for surgical and implant procedures with sedation options.
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Streets of Tanasbourne & Orenco Station
Easily accessible via US-26 and NW 185th. Local general dentists in these communities regularly refer patients to us for specialty procedures.
Why Local Dentists Refer to Us
We work as a trusted partner to general dentists throughout the Tualatin Valley. When cases require CBCT-guided planning, IV sedation, bone grafting, or other advanced procedures, local providers refer to Dr. Ostovar for his experience with implant procedures and predictable results.
We handle the procedures within our scope and coordinate closely with your general dentist for seamless continuity of care from start to finish.
Office hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM (Thu & Fri until 6 PM), Sat 8 AM–2 PM
Understanding Your Investment
At Aloha Dental Specialty Center, we provide transparent pricing before any treatment begins. The cost of your procedure depends on clinical complexity, materials used, and sedation requirements. We walk you through every line item during your consultation so there are no surprises.
What Affects Cost:
- Clinical Complexity: Bone loss, sinus proximity, nerve involvement, or the need for grafting affects treatment planning and surgical time.
- Materials: We use research-backed implant systems, purified bone graft matrices, and high-strength ceramics from established manufacturers.
- Sedation: Options range from local anesthesia to IV sedation, each with different associated costs. We discuss the best option for your comfort and procedure.
Insurance & Financing
We accept most major dental insurance plans and file claims on your behalf. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment and submits pre-treatment estimates with clinical documentation to maximize coverage.
For out-of-pocket costs, we partner with CareCredit and Cherry for flexible payment plans. We also offer our ADSC Dental Savings Plan for patients without insurance.
Recovery & Healing Timeline
Understanding the healing process helps you plan ahead and follow post-operative instructions for the best possible outcome.
First 48 Hours
Mild swelling and tenderness are normal. Apply ice packs in 20-minute intervals and take prescribed or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. Eat soft foods and avoid the surgical site when chewing.
Days 3 to 7
Swelling peaks around day three and then improves. The tissue begins closing over the surgical site. Continue with soft foods and use any prescribed antimicrobial rinse. Most patients return to normal activities during this phase.
Long-Term Healing
Surface tissue heals within two to three weeks. Bone integration and deep healing continue for three to six months. Avoid smoking, follow up as scheduled, and maintain good oral hygiene throughout recovery.
Questions during recovery? Call us at (503) 822-0096. We are available for post-operative concerns.
The DC/TMD Diagnostic System: Gold Standard for TMJ Classification
The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD), published by an international consortium of researchers, provides validated diagnostic algorithms for the most common TMD subtypes with sensitivity and specificity values exceeding 85% for each diagnosis. Research in the Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache demonstrated that practitioners using DC/TMD protocols achieved accurate diagnoses in 92% of cases, compared to 58% for those using unstructured clinical examination. CBCT imaging adds diagnostic value for bony joint pathology including condylar erosion, osteophyte formation, and flattening — findings that change treatment planning in 35% of cases.
Why Choose ADSC?
Our clinicians apply the DC/TMD diagnostic framework to every TMJ patient at Aloha Dental Specialty Center. Our team evaluates joint pathology including disc displacement, degenerative changes, and candidates for arthrocentesis. Our team assesses occlusal relationships, muscle function, and splint therapy candidates. Their coordinated evaluation produces diagnoses that account for both joint and muscle components of TMD — a distinction that determines treatment success.
Your TMJ TMD Consultation Beaverton Treatment Steps
- Consultation & Exam: Comprehensive tmj tmd consultation beaverton evaluation with CBCT 3D imaging at our Beaverton office.
- Treatment Plan: Our experienced dental team discusses your tmj tmd consultation beaverton options, timeline, and costs. We use advanced 3D imaging and evidence-based protocols across general dentistry, endodontics, and pediatric care.
- Treatment: Procedure performed with comfort options including sedation if needed.
- Follow-Up: Post-treatment monitoring and care coordination for optimal healing.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Book a consultation with our team at Aloha Dental Specialty Center in Beaverton, OR. Call (503) 822-0096 Office hours: Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM (until 6 PM Thursday and Friday), Saturday 8 AM to 2 PM. or request an appointment online.
Related Services at Aloha Dental Specialty Center:
Dental Implants · Oral Surgery · Root Canal · Invisalign · Periodontics · Pediatric · TMJ Treatment · Sedation · Cosmetic · Emergency · Sleep Apnea
A Note from Your Dental Team
In my experience, the patients who get the best results from tmj tmd consultation beaverton are those who come in with realistic expectations and follow their post-treatment instructions carefully. I’d rather spend extra time explaining what to expect than have a patient be surprised later.
“Every patient I see has a different story, a different set of concerns, and a different definition of what ‘success’ looks like. That’s why I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatment plans. When you come in for a consultation, I’ll listen first, examine second, and recommend third.
I also won’t recommend a procedure you don’t need. If your tooth can be saved with a filling instead of a crown, I’ll tell you that. If watchful waiting is appropriate, I’ll explain why. My job isn’t to sell treatment — it’s to give you my honest clinical judgment so you can make an informed decision.
If you have questions about whether this treatment is right for you, or if you’ve been told you need this procedure by another dentist and want a second opinion, call us at (503) 822-0096. We’re happy to take the time to explain everything — no rush, no pressure.”
— Aloha Dental Specialty Center, Beaverton, OR
I know many patients feel anxious about dental procedures — you’re not alone in that. What I hear most often after treatment is: “That was so much easier than I expected.” We’re here to make this as comfortable as possible for you.
What are the risks? As with any dental procedure, potential risks include temporary discomfort, minor swelling, and in rare cases, infection. Serious complications are uncommon when treatment is performed by experienced specialists using proper protocols. We use 3D imaging and sterile technique to minimize risk, and we discuss all potential outcomes with you before starting treatment.
For additional clinical information, visit the American Dental Association (ADA).
Last reviewed: March 2026. Clinical information on this page reflects current evidence-based dental practices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Because different TMD subtypes require different treatments. A splint designed for muscle relaxation may worsen a patient with disc displacement. Anti-inflammatory medication helps arthralgia but does nothing for myofascial pain with referral. Correct diagnosis drives correct treatment.
It is the internationally recognized diagnostic classification for temporomandibular disorders, developed by a consortium of researchers. It provides validated protocols for diagnosing specific TMD subtypes including myalgia, arthralgia, disc displacement, degenerative joint disease, and headache attributed to TMD.
Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a thorough TMJ evaluation. This includes history, clinical examination, muscle palpation, joint assessment, occlusal analysis, and CBCT imaging. Rushing the diagnosis leads to missed findings.
CBCT provides a three-dimensional view of the condyle shape, fossa morphology, joint space, and any bony changes such as erosion, flattening, osteophytes (bone spurs), or sclerosis. These findings directly influence whether conservative or interventional treatment is appropriate.
MRI is not needed for every TMJ patient. We recommend it when disc position needs to be confirmed — specifically for suspected disc displacement without reduction or when considering arthrocentesis. CBCT alone is sufficient for most diagnostic purposes.
Yes. TMD symptoms overlap with tension headache, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, Eagle syndrome, salivary gland pathology, and cervical spine disorders. Our systematic evaluation differentiates TMD from these conditions, preventing misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
We welcome patients seeking a second opinion. If your previous treatment was ineffective, the diagnosis may need refinement. We start fresh with our own systematic evaluation and provide an independent assessment.
We will ask about pain location, duration, and character; jaw function limitations; clicking, popping, or locking; headache patterns; ear symptoms; sleep quality; stress levels; clenching and grinding habits; previous treatments; and medical history including trauma and arthritis.
Myalgia is muscle pain — it comes from the masticatory muscles (masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoids). Arthralgia is joint pain — it originates from the TMJ joint capsule, disc, or articular surfaces. Many patients have both, but treatment priorities differ.
Yes. Adolescent TMD is increasingly recognized, particularly in teenage girls. The DC/TMD diagnostic criteria are applicable to adolescents with appropriate clinical adjustments. Early diagnosis prevents progression to chronic pain.
Some components of the examination — specifically muscle palpation of tender muscles — may reproduce your familiar pain. This is actually diagnostically useful because it helps us identify which muscles and joints are involved. We proceed gently and explain each step.
We develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific TMD subtype. This includes a detailed explanation of your condition, recommended first-line treatment (usually conservative), expected timeline, and criteria for advancing to more interventional treatment if needed.
A comprehensive evaluation with clinical examination and CBCT imaging typically ranges from $300 to $500. Some dental and medical insurance plans provide partial coverage for TMJ-related services. We verify benefits before your appointment.
Yes. We frequently receive TMJ referrals from general dentists, physicians, ENT specialists, neurologists, and physical therapists. We provide a detailed diagnostic report to the referring provider after evaluation.
TMD is often multifactorial, involving dental, muscular, psychological, and sometimes medical components. When our evaluation identifies contributing factors outside our scope — cervical spine issues, sleep disorders, or psychological factors — we coordinate with the appropriate specialists.