Easing the jaw-muscle spasm behind TMJ pain.
EMFACE is FDA-cleared for the treatment of TMJ dysfunction. Here it is used medically, for the overworked jaw muscles that drive clenching, tension, and pain.
EMFACE is FDA-cleared for the treatment of TMJ dysfunction. It uses synchronized radiofrequency and HIFES muscle stimulation, applied without needles or downtime, to work the jaw muscles directly.
Most people first hear about EMFACE as a facial treatment. This practice uses it for the jaw, chosen from the same measurements that guide the rest of your TMJ care.
What EMFACE is cleared to do for TMJ
These are the cleared indications, stated as they are cleared. We do not describe EMFACE as doing anything beyond this list.
- Relief of symptoms associated with muscle spasm
- Treatment of TMJ dysfunction and its associated pain
- Muscle re-education
- Increased local blood flow
- Maintenance or improvement of mandibular range of motion
“Cleared” is not the same as “approved.” It means the FDA determined the device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate for these uses. It is not a promise of a result in any individual case.
What a session is like
Applicators are positioned over the jaw muscles and deliver radiofrequency and muscle stimulation for the duration of the session. You feel warmth and repeated muscle contraction. There is nothing to recover from, and people generally return to work afterwards. EMFACE is typically delivered as a short series rather than one visit.
Where it fits in your care
EMFACE is one tool, not a treatment plan. For most patients it sits alongside diagnostic-led TMJ treatment and, where sleep is involved, alongside care for the airway. The clenching that overworks these muscles frequently travels with a sleep-breathing problem, which is why it belongs in a practice that evaluates the jaw and the airway together.
Scope note. Dental Sleep Medicine of Charlotte offers EMFACE for TMJ dysfunction only. Facial-aesthetic EMFACE is not part of this practice.
EMFACE for the jaw, answered.
What is EMFACE cleared to treat?
EMFACE is FDA-cleared for the treatment of TMJ dysfunction. The cleared indications are relief of symptoms associated with muscle spasm, treatment of TMJ dysfunction and associated pain, muscle re-education, increased local blood flow, and maintenance or improvement of mandibular range of motion.
How does it work?
EMFACE delivers synchronized radiofrequency and HIFES muscle stimulation. The stimulation contracts the jaw muscles directly, which is used for muscle re-education and to ease spasm in the muscles that drive clenching and TMJ pain.
Does it involve needles or downtime?
Neither. It is non-invasive: no injections, no numbing, and no recovery period. You lie still during the session and return to your day afterwards.
Why have a dentist trained in neuromuscular care deliver it?
Because the muscles EMFACE targets are the ones we already measure. In this practice the bite is recorded with T-Scan, muscle activity with EMG, and the joint imaged in 3D, so EMFACE is chosen on the basis of findings and fitted into a treatment plan rather than sold as a standalone session.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on your case. EMFACE is typically delivered as a short series rather than a single treatment, and we set expectations at the consultation rather than in advance of examining you.
Is this the same EMFACE as the facial treatment?
It is the same device, used for a different, separately cleared purpose. This practice uses EMFACE for TMJ dysfunction and jaw-muscle spasm. Facial-aesthetic treatment is not offered here; that is a different practice and a different conversation.
Is EMFACE covered by insurance?
Coverage for TMJ treatment varies considerably by plan, and EMFACE specifically is often not a covered benefit. We verify your coverage and tell you what the practice expects your plan to pay before treatment begins.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Kathryn Sudikoff, DMD, Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.Reviewed
Wondering whether EMFACE suits your jaw?
A short conversation is the fastest way to find out whether we can help. Most sleep and TMJ care here is billed to medical insurance.