General Dentistry 
TMJ TMJ (temporomandibular joint) in Uijeongbu
TMJ appliance (splint) · night guard — We make a custom hard appliance and take care of bite adjustments after fitting.
TMJ care at a glance — If your jaw hurts or makes sounds, we first determine whether the pain comes from the muscles or the joint. If an appliance is needed, we scan without impressions using an intraoral scanner and make a hard-resin appliance (splint). The first adjustment is 2–3 weeks after fitting, followed by bite readjustments at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months. In-house fabrication costs ₩550,000 and external dental laboratory fabrication costs ₩600,000, including adjustment visits.
Why Boston Miso
TMJ care at Boston Miso Dental Clinic: What makes it different?
Two dentists certified in TMJ therapy distinguish muscle pain from joint pain, then make a custom hard appliance rather than a soft mouthguard. It is designed from an intraoral scan without impressions, and the appliance fee includes adjustments after fitting.
01
Two dentists certified in TMJ therapy provide your care
Dr. Jongbum Lee, Clinic Director (Board-Certified Specialist in Advanced General Dentistry (Korea)), and Dr. Juho Ryu, Associate Dentist, are both Certified in TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Therapy. We first determine whether the pain comes from the muscles or the joint, then design the appliance.
02
A hard appliance, not a soft mouthguard
A soft appliance may make you chew on it while sleeping, which can put more strain on the jaw. That is why we make only hard-resin appliances with clear bite contacts.
03
No impressions: scanned, designed, and printed in-house
We scan the upper and lower teeth and the bite with a 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner, then design the appliance digitally. Depending on its purpose and expected period of use, you can choose in-house 3D printing (₩550,000) or fabrication by an external dental laboratory (₩600,000).
04
Fitting day is not the end; adjustments are part of treatment
As the muscles relax and the jaw settles into position with the appliance, the bite changes. The first adjustment is after 2–3 weeks, followed by further adjustments at 2-week, 4-week, and 3-month intervals depending on symptoms. Adjustment visits are included in the appliance fee.
When
TMJ care: when should you consider it?
Jaw stiffness in the morning, pain with joint sounds, and reduced mouth opening are signs that an appliance may be worth considering. A night guard protects teeth and restorations when teeth are wearing or breaking, when you have new implants or restorations, or when a ready-made mouthguard has been uncomfortable.
When your jaw or temples feel stiff in the morning This is a sign that teeth grinding (bruxism) or clenching during sleep is tiring the muscles. A night guard takes that force instead.
When opening your mouth causes a sound and pain The disc inside the joint may be out of position. We check both the pain and how wide your mouth opens.
When your mouth opens less than before Reduced opening may mean a joint problem is progressing, so we assess whether it is time to reduce stress on the joint with an appliance.
When teeth wear or break, or restorations keep breaking Flattened tooth edges, cracked teeth, and crowns that repeatedly break are signs of grinding. The appliance wears down instead of your teeth.
After getting new implants, crowns, Minish, or laminate veneers Grinding forces act on new restorations too. If there are signs of grinding, we also recommend an appliance to protect the restorations.
When an online mouthguard feels more uncomfortable A ready-made product is not adjusted to your bite. It is time to switch to a hard appliance fitted from a scan.
Process
TMJ care: how does it work?
The examination determines whether the problem is in the muscles or the joint. If an appliance is needed, we design and make a hard appliance from an intraoral scan. We adjust the bite on fitting day, make the first readjustment after 2–3 weeks, and decide when to finish through reviews at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months.
STEP 01
Examination — muscle or joint?
We check how far and along what path your mouth opens, joint sounds, muscle tenderness, and tooth wear or fractures. If needed, we examine the joints and teeth with 3D CT. For muscle pain, we first use medication, low-level laser therapy, and habit changes. We make an appliance if pain remains, the joint is involved, or there are signs of grinding.
STEP 02
Intraoral scan
We scan the upper and lower teeth and the bite with an intraoral scanner, without impression material.
STEP 03
Digital design · fabrication
We raise the bite by about 1.5–2 mm and design the appliance so the back teeth contact evenly when you close, the canines guide side-to-side jaw movement, and the front teeth guide forward movement. Most appliances are made for the upper jaw.
STEP 04
Fitting · bite adjustment
We have you bite on the appliance in your mouth and readjust the back-tooth contacts and canine and front-tooth guidance.
STEP 05
First readjustment after 2–3 weeks
As the muscles relax and the jaw settles into position, the bite changes. We readjust the appliance to match the change.
STEP 06
Reviews at 2 weeks · 4 weeks · 3 months and completion
Treatment ends when you have no pain without the appliance. If removing it causes pain, we return to the previous wearing schedule. If it still hurts while you wear it, we reassess the appliance retention and lifestyle factors.
The process and timeline can vary depending on oral condition; the exact plan is provided after examination.
Before You Decide
What should I know before deciding?
We make only custom hard appliances, and treatment includes bite adjustments after fitting. Any bulky feeling and bite changes during the first few days are addressed through scheduled adjustments.
Our approach to TMJ
Boston Miso Dental Clinic, Uijeongbu — Dr. Jongbum Lee, Clinic Director · Board-certified specialist in Advanced General Dentistry
- ✓We first determine whether the pain comes from the muscles or the joint
- ✓We do not make soft appliances; we make only custom hard appliances
- ✓Treatment includes bite adjustments after fitting — adjustment visits are included in the appliance fee
- ✓If structural joint damage is suspected, we refer you to a higher-level medical institution that can perform detailed testing
What to know beforehand
- !The appliance may feel awkward and affect your speech during the first few days. If it is uncomfortable, do not put up with it; bring it in — a custom appliance is meant to be adjusted for you.
- !The appliance changes your bite, so you need readjustments on the scheduled dates. Wearing it for a long time without adjustment may cause some teeth to stop contacting.
- !Reducing stress and habits such as chewing only on one side or resting your chin on your hand helps the effect last longer.
- !The appliance is a consumable item that wears down instead of your teeth. At regular checkups, we assess the wear and tell you when to replace it.
Fee
What about the cost of dentures, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) treatment, Botox and other treatments?
TMJ appliances and night guards cost ₩600,000 when made by an external dental laboratory and ₩550,000 when made in-house. Fees for Botox in the masseter and temporalis muscles are also listed in the table below.
| Category | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning (scaling) | ₩50,000 | Performed with Swiss EMS AIRFLOW (GBT protocol) — fine powder washes away biofilm and stains instead of scraping with metal · Korean National Health Insurance covers this once a year for people aged 19 or older; ₩50,000 is the fee if you have already used this year's covered visit or are not eligible for coverage |
| TMJ Splint · Night Guard | ₩600,000 | In-house fabrication ₩550,000 |
| Denture | ₩1,500,000 | Same fee whether partial or full |
All fees not covered by national health insurance are published — the price on this page is the price you pay in the treatment room Book on NAVER · Call +82-31-871-2275
Compare
Online night guards and dental appliances: What is the difference?
A soft, ready-made mouthguard is difficult to fit precisely to your bite and may make you chew on it while sleeping, which can put more strain on your jaw. Boston Miso Dental Clinic makes a hard appliance fitted from a scan and adjusts the bite after fitting.
Material
Online · pharmacy mouthguardOften made of soft material
Boston Miso Dental Clinic hard applianceHard resin
How it is fitted
Online · pharmacy mouthguardUsually heated and shaped by biting into it
Boston Miso Dental Clinic hard applianceDigitally designed from an intraoral scan
Bite
Online · pharmacy mouthguardDifficult to fit precisely to your bite
Boston Miso Dental Clinic hard applianceAdjusted so the back teeth contact evenly and the canines and front teeth guide jaw movement
While you sleep
Online · pharmacy mouthguardIts softness may make you chew on it and put strain on the jaw
Boston Miso Dental Clinic hard applianceClear bite contacts reduce the urge to chew
After fitting
Online · pharmacy mouthguardNo one adjusts it for you
Boston Miso Dental Clinic hard applianceFirst readjustment after 2–3 weeks, then further adjustments based on symptoms (included in the fee)
If it wears out or is lost
Online · pharmacy mouthguardBuy a new one and fit it again
Boston Miso Dental Clinic hard applianceWe check your current bite and remake it from the scan data
Intraoral Scanner · In-house 3D Printer · Low-Level Laser TMJ Therapy Device · Appliance Fees
Clinical Case
TMJ treatment records
General Dentistry 
How long should I wear a TMJ appliance (splint)? Adjustments at 2–3 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 months, and signs you can stop
Read more — How long should I wear a TMJ appliance (splint)? Adjustments at 2–3 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 months, and signs you can stop
General Dentistry 
Online night guards vs. dental appliances — what is the difference? Why we use a hard appliance instead of a soft one
Read more — Online night guards vs. dental appliances — what is the difference? Why we use a hard appliance instead of a soft one
Ask Us
What should I ask during my consultation?
You can ask these questions exactly as written in the treatment room. They are questions we should answer for you before you decide.
- Does my pain come from the muscles or the joint?
- Should my appliance be worn on the upper or lower teeth?
- When should I come back for an adjustment?
Q & A
TMJ — Frequently Asked Questions
A soft, ready-made mouthguard is difficult to fit precisely to your bite and may make you chew on it while sleeping, which can put more strain on your jaw. At the dental clinic, we make a hard appliance fitted from a scan and adjust the bite again in your mouth after fitting.
Both are hard bite appliances that cover the teeth. For jaw pain, the bite height and adjustment schedule are set to reduce stress on the joint and muscles; for teeth grinding, they are set to protect the teeth and restorations.
An appliance scanned, designed, and printed in-house costs ₩550,000; one made by an external dental laboratory costs ₩600,000. The fee includes visits for necessary adjustments after fitting. TMJ appliances and night guards are not covered by Korean National Health Insurance.
For in-house fabrication, the clinic designs the appliance directly from your intraoral scan data and prints it on a 3D printer. For external fabrication, the same scan data is sent to a dental laboratory. We choose together based on the purpose and expected period of use. With either option, the Clinic Director personally adjusts your bite after fitting.
The duration is based on your symptoms rather than a fixed period. We make the first adjustment after 2–3 weeks, then recheck the bite at intervals of 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months. Treatment ends when you have no pain without the appliance. If the pain returns when you remove it, we return to the previous wearing schedule. If the purpose is to protect your teeth from grinding, continued use is usually better.
Most are made for the upper jaw because the bite is easier to adjust. During the first few days, it may feel bulky and affect speech, so we thin the area touched by the tongue. If you have a pronounced underbite or the upper appliance is very uncomfortable, we may make one for the lower jaw.
This can happen because the jaw position changes as the muscles relax. That is why an adjustment is scheduled after 2–3 weeks. If the feeling continues or gets worse before then, come in early so we can check your bite.
If there is no pain or limitation in opening your mouth, we may simply monitor it. However, we recommend an appliance if pain has started with the sound or if there are signs of grinding, such as worn teeth.
We recommend one if you show signs of teeth grinding. Grinding forces during sleep also act on new restorations, and if they break, remaking them takes more time and money. If scan data from your restorative treatment is available, we can design the appliance after checking only your current bite.
They have different roles. Botox reduces the strength of the chewing muscles themselves, while the appliance spreads the remaining force to reduce stress on the teeth and joints. We decide whether to use both after examining the cause of pain and the condition of your muscles.
Because it happens while you sleep, you may not know. Clues include flattened, worn tooth edges, cracked teeth or broken restorations, jaw stiffness in the morning, and grinding sounds heard by someone sleeping nearby. During the examination, we show you the worn areas directly on the intraoral scan.
Wear on the appliance means it has been ground down instead of your teeth. At regular checkups, we assess the wear and tell you when it should be replaced. When making a new one, we check your current bite and scan again if it has changed.
Many causes, including the bite and teeth grinding, fall within dental care. Both dentists at Boston Miso Dental Clinic are certified in TMJ therapy. If detailed testing is needed, such as for structural joint damage, we refer you to a higher-level medical institution.
Have a question not listed here?
Call 031-871-2275 during our hours and our front desk will help you. Treatment method, duration and cost vary with oral condition, so we can only give exact details after an exam.
Call 031-871-2275 during our hours and our front desk will help you. Treatment method, duration and cost vary with oral condition, so we can only give exact details after an exam.
In Depth
TMJ, in more detail
Online night guards vs. dental appliances — what is the difference? Why we use a hard appliance instead of a soft one
Night guards sold online are soft and are not fitted to your bite. At the clinic we make a custom hard appliance from an intraoral scan and readjust it at 2–3 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 months. In-house fabrication ₩550,000.
How long should I wear a TMJ appliance (splint)? Adjustments at 2–3 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 months, and signs you can stop
A TMJ appliance is finished based on symptoms, not a fixed period. After the first readjustment at 2–3 weeks and checks at 4 weeks and 3 months, we stop when it no longer hurts without the appliance. In-house fabrication ₩550,000, readjustment visits included.
If I grind my teeth after implants, crowns or Minish, do I need a night guard? Remake costs vs. appliance cost, and when to fit it
If there are signs of grinding, we recommend a hard appliance to protect implants, crowns and Minish. It is designed from your existing restoration scan without impressions: in-house ₩550,000, external lab ₩600,000, readjustment visits included.
References
References
The treatment sequence and standards described here are Boston Miso Dental Clinic's own principles; the figures, mechanisms and treatment outcomes are based on the references below. Manufacturer data is separately marked in the text as "manufacturer's own figures."
- Schiffman E, Ohrbach R, Truelove E, et al. Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for Clinical and Research Applications. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2014;28(1):6-27. doi:10.11607/jop.1151
— International diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders — distinguishes muscle pain from joint pain. - Lobbezoo F, Ahlberg J, Raphael KG, et al. International consensus on the assessment of bruxism: Report of a work in progress. J Oral Rehabil. 2018;45(11):837-844. doi:10.1111/joor.12663
— International consensus on assessing bruxism. - Okeson JP. The effects of hard and soft occlusal splints on nocturnal bruxism. J Am Dent Assoc. 1987;114(6):788-791. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.1987.0165
— The hard appliance reduced nighttime muscle activity in 8 of 10 participants, while the soft appliance increased it in 5 (small study). - Yamaguchi Y, Ooi K, Yuasa H, et al. Efficacy of initial conservative treatment options for temporomandibular disorders: A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Prosthodont Res. 2025;69(2):173-180. doi:10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_23_00273
— Stabilization appliances, low-level laser therapy, and self-exercise helped improve pain as initial conservative treatments.
Other Treatments
Other Treatment Guides
Implants We start by checking your jawbone and plan around what will last. Minish Minish (MINISH) restores worn or chipped front teeth to a shape close to the original. Laminate Veneers We first check whether no-prep treatment is possible and, if minimal preparation is needed, how far the tooth can be prepared within the enamel. Cosmetic Crowns & Veneers This treatment (a crown) covers root-canal-treated or badly broken teeth with zirconia or ceramic. Teeth Whitening We first distinguish staining that whitening can fix from discoloration it can't. Wisdom Tooth Extraction We first judge whether a wisdom tooth needs to come out or can be watched. Cavity Treatment The earlier it's caught, the less tooth structure has to be removed. Gum Treatment Jawbone that has receded doesn't grow back. The goal is to stop it from progressing.
The clinician responsible for treatment guidance at Boston Miso Dental Clinic is Dr. Jongbum Lee, Clinic Director, a board-certified specialist in Advanced General Dentistry (Korea).
We first check whether you need an appliance
The appliance design differs depending on whether the cause is muscle, joint, or teeth grinding.
See the worn areas with us on your intraoral scan.
Minish