John Sobhani, DMD, has provided dental services to patients in the Los Angeles region since 2022, guiding a full range of restorative and preventive care at Best Care Dental. He treats oral health conditions including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, along with fillings, crowns, root canals, veneers, dental implants, extractions, and clear aligner therapy, while developing personalized treatment plans suited to each patient’s needs. Dr. Sobhani also offers cosmetic solutions such as teeth whitening and Invisalign, and he maintains advanced technologies like intraoral cameras and digital X-rays alongside his dental assistants and hygienists. He studied sociology at California State University, Northridge, before earning a master of science in gerontology at the University of Southern California and a DMD from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Outside the office, he enjoys tennis, golf, and swimming.
Tens of millions of Americans live with at least one oral health condition, including as many as 12 million individuals living with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), also known as TMJ. TMD affects one or both of the body’s temporomandibular joints, which are located on either side of the face, near the ears. These joints are important for several basic functions, including talking and chewing food.
Most people living with TMD develop symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. Women are twice as likely to develop the condition. While TMD is relatively common in the US, many people can address the symptoms through several treatment approaches and reduce the risk of chronic or long-lasting health issues.
Pain that radiates throughout the face, especially around the jaw, is often the first sign that a person has developed TMD. The pain can cause persistent headaches and migraines.
TMD also impacts the function of the jaw as a result of stiffness and locking, which can make it difficult for the mouth to open or close. People may also notice clicking, popping, and other noises while using their jaws. Additional symptoms include tooth pain, earaches, and pain in the neck and shoulders.
Before developing a treatment plan for TMD, health care professionals must identify the underlying cause of the condition. In some cases, a person develops TMD after a jaw injury, such as a break or dislocation.
TMD may indicate a more complex issue, like oral arthritis or a misaligned bite. Other people experience TMD due to stress that causes increased jaw tension or bruxism, better known as teeth grinding.
Certain behaviors can increase a person’s risk of TMD. Chewing on hard objects (such as pens or ice) can lead to TMD, as can using teeth as tools to open difficult objects or tear at non-food items.
Several seemingly unrelated behaviors can also increase TMD risk, such as bad posture or sleeping on your stomach. People can take steps to mitigate contributing factors before they start suffering from TMD symptoms.
Wearing a mouth guard, for example, can be an effective way to preserve oral health during athletic activities and minimize the impact of bruxism.
Individuals living with elevated stress levels should consider the benefits of deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness practices. In some cases, however, a person needs to seek the support of a dental health professional.
Without proper treatment, TMD can cause serious, long-term pain, difficulty eating, and permanent damage to teeth. Health providers often take a multi-tiered approach to treatment, as most people experiencing TMD live with multiple risk factors.
Following dental X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other diagnostic screening techniques, medical professionals can gain a general idea of people’s TMD and contributing factors.
Ideally, dentists attempt to treat TMD using non-invasive techniques. Medicine is often used to address issues of pain, swelling, and muscle tension, while beneficial, non-surgical therapies range from specialized jaw exercises to trigger point injections.
Doctors can create custom mouth guards and splints in combination with ultrasound therapy, TENS electrical therapy, and behavioral changes.
In extreme cases, health care providers may recommend surgery, such as TMJ arthroscopy, arthrocentesis, or, in more advanced cases, open-joint surgery.
More recently, dental health professionals have utilized Botox injections to help manage TMJ pain, either as a standalone treatment or alongside other therapies.
About John Sobhani
Dr. John Sobhani, DMD, operates a comprehensive dental practice in Los Angeles, offering restorative and cosmetic services that include fillings, crowns, root canals, veneers, implants, extractions, and Invisalign. He earned a sociology degree from California State University, Northridge, followed by a master’s in gerontology from the University of Southern California and a DMD from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. During his time at Tufts, he held an executive board role with Smile Squad, helping distribute dental hygiene kits to families at community health fairs.
