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Dr. Elona completed a formal TMJ and Orofacial Pain residency, and her training shapes every diagnosis and treatment plan at Inspire Smiles.
TMJ pain affects every part of your day. Tell us what you're experiencing and we'll reach out to schedule your consultation.
Hours: Mon 7am-4pm, Tue 8am-5pm, Wed 7am-4pm, Thu 8am-5pm, Fri 7am-3pm 530 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite A, Solana Beach, CA 92075
TMJ and orofacial pain sit at the intersection of dentistry, neuromuscular function and pain physiology. A dentist with general continuing education covers the basics. A dentist who completed a formal residency in TMJ and Orofacial Pain spent years in structured clinical training focused entirely on these conditions.
Dr. Elona's residency training means:
Patients travel from Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff, Encinitas and Carlsbad for Dr. Elona’s level of care and commitment to her patients.
Your evaluation begins with a full picture of how your bite, jaw joints and muscles function together. Dr. Elona assesses your bite alignment, muscle tension patterns, joint mobility and pain triggers. This is not a quick screening. It is the foundation every treatment recommendation is built on.
For patients referred from other providers or who have tried previous treatments without success, the evaluation also includes a detailed review of what was tried before and why the response was limited.
Many patients with TMJ pain have been told "your jaw is clicking" or "you grind your teeth" without a clear explanation of why or what to do about it. Dr. Elona's approach is to give you a specific, understandable diagnosis: what is happening in your joint and musculature, what is driving it, and what the realistic treatment path looks like.
Conditions often connected to TMJ dysfunction include chronic headaches, ear pain, tinnitus, facial pain, neck tension and limited mouth opening. These are frequently managed in isolation by different providers. A neuromuscular evaluation often reveals that they share a single root cause.
Treatment at Inspire Smiles is built around what your specific presentation requires. Common approaches include custom orthotic splints to decompress the joint and reposition your bite, guided muscle relaxation protocols, occlusal adjustment when bite imbalance is a driver, and coordination with other specialists when the case warrants it.
The goal at every stage is relief without surgery. The majority of TMJ cases, when caught and treated properly, respond well to conservative care. Dr. Elona's residency training informs when that is true and when more involved intervention is warranted.
Inspire Smiles treats patients across Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff and Encinitas who present with a range of TMJ-related symptoms. You don't need a formal diagnosis before calling.
Common symptoms:
Conditions frequently evaluated:
If you are unsure whether your symptoms fall within Dr. Elona's scope, the best first step is to call or submit a reservation request. We will let you know at your visit whether we can help or whether a different specialist is the right fit.
Inspire Smiles is an unrestricted provider. We do not participate in dental insurance networks, which means Dr. Elona is not limited by what an insurance plan will approve. Your treatment is based on what your case requires.
For our patients who prefer to spread the investment over time, we offer financing through CareCredit, Sunbit and Cherry, as well as in-house payment plan options. Our team will walk you through what fits your situation before any treatment begins.
Patients across Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff and Encinitas have found lasting relief for TMJ pain under Dr. Elona's care. The first step is a thorough evaluation by a residency-trained specialist who has treated these cases for 25+ years.
Inspire Smiles 530 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite A Solana Beach, CA 92075
Hours: Mon 7-4 | Tue 8-5 | Wed 7-4 | Thu 8-5 | Fri 7-3