TMJ Treatment in Idaho Falls, ID
New Patients Receive $200 in In-Office Credit!
Join Foothills Dental as a new patient and receive $200 in credit for essential treatments, including:
- Initial Examination
- X-rays
- Cleaning
- Teeth Whitening
- Healthy Smiles Subscription
Eligibility: The Smile for Free promotion is for new patients or those who haven't received care at Foothills Dental in the last 24 months.
Credit Use: The $200 credit can be applied to your initial exam, x-rays, cleaning, teeth whitening, or a Healthy Smiles subscription. The credit is for future treatments only and cannot be exchanged for cash or products.
Exclusions: MCNA patients are not eligible. The promotion can be used only once per patient.
Why Patients Love Foothills Dental
Relief from TMJ Pain Starts Here
Personalized TMJ Relief Plans
Every patient’s experience is different. That’s why we take time to understand your symptoms and recommend solutions tailored to your needs—whether that’s a nightguard, bite adjustment, or further therapy.
Advanced Technology
We use digital imaging and bite analysis tools to pinpoint the source of your discomfort and plan treatment with precision.
Comfort-Focused Care
Your comfort is always our priority. From start to finish, we provide a calm, supportive space where you can feel at ease. Plus, we offer extended hours and flexible scheduling to fit your routine.
Recognizing When You Need Immediate Care
Severe Toothache
A toothache that causes intense pain or swelling may indicate infection or a deeper issue that needs to be addressed right away.
Knocked-Out Teeth
If your tooth has been knocked out due to injury, immediate attention can sometimes save the tooth.
Broken or Cracked Teeth
A chipped or broken tooth can cause pain and may expose nerves, so quick care is important to avoid infection or further damage.
Loose Fillings or Crowns
Losing a filling or crown can expose sensitive areas, causing discomfort or even further tooth decay.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Injuries to your gums, lips, or cheeks from a fall or accident can cause bleeding and discomfort and require prompt treatment to prevent complications
Abscessed Tooth
An infection in the tooth root or gum that results in a pimple-like swelling on the gums can cause pain and requires quick treatment to avoid spreading.
Insurance & Financing
Why TMJ Treatment Matters
Ignoring jaw pain can lead to worsening symptoms and impact your overall wellness. Common signs of TMJ disorders include:
- Jaw pain or tightness
- Clicking or popping sounds
- Frequent headaches or neck pain
- Earaches or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Difficulty opening your mouth fully
- Clenching or grinding at night
Getting treatment early helps prevent long-term joint damage and improves your quality of life.
Do You Need TMJ Treatment?
If you’re dealing with ongoing jaw discomfort, clenching, or unexplained tension in your face or head, you may be dealing with a TMJ disorder. You don’t have to live with the pain—here’s what you can do:
- At Home: Apply a warm compress to relax tight muscles. Eat soft foods. Avoid wide jaw movements like chewing gum or yawning too hard.
- At Our Office: We’ll perform a thorough exam, review your symptoms, and discuss your daily habits. From there, we’ll build a plan just for you.
You deserve answers—and relief.
What to Expect from TMJ Treatment
When you visit Foothills Dental for TMJ care, you can expect:
In-Depth Evaluation
We’ll ask about your symptoms, lifestyle, and jaw movements. Then we’ll use advanced tools to evaluate your bite and joint alignment.
Pain Management
If you're experiencing discomfort, we’ll recommend relief strategies such as jaw stretches, custom oral appliances, or muscle relaxants if needed.
Custom Treatment Plan
Your treatment may include a nightguard, bite adjustment, or even referral to a specialist, depending on your needs.
Ongoing Support
We’ll monitor your progress and make adjustments along the way. Your comfort and long-term results matter to us.
Where Quality Meets Comfort
Same-Day Emergency Care
We keep spots open for dental emergencies – because you shouldn’t have to wait for relief.
Extended Hours Available
Busy schedule? No problem. We offer evening hours during the week and Saturday appointments to fit your life.
Modern Comfort Amenities
Enjoy relaxing entertainment with Hulu and stress-relieving items like earphones and stress balls during your visit.
State-of-the-Art Technology
We use advanced tools and digital imaging to provide you with faster, more precise treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It connects your jaw to your skull. Problems in this joint can cause pain, tension, and jaw dysfunction.
Can TMJ go away on its own?
Sometimes symptoms can improve with rest, but chronic TMJ often needs treatment to prevent further issues.
Will insurance cover TMJ treatment?
Coverage depends on your plan. We accept most major PPOs and will help you understand your benefits. We also offer financing and payment options.
Do nightguards help with TMJ?
Yes. A custom nightguard can reduce clenching or grinding, which are common TMJ triggers.
Is surgery necessary for TMJ?
Surgery is rare. Most patients find relief through non-invasive options like bite therapy, oral appliances, or lifestyle changes.
How soon can I start treatment?
We offer same-day and next-day appointments. Our team is here to help you get started as soon as possible.
Located in Idaho Falls, ID
Foothills Dental is proud to serve the Idaho Falls community and neighboring areas, including Ammon, Shelley, Rigby, and Jackson Hole. Our practice is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care to families throughout Southeast Idaho, offering everything from routine cleanings to advanced restorative treatments.
We are located next to the mall and across from Subway.
Get to Know Us
Expertise You Can Count On
Care You Can Rely On
Dr. James Richey
Dr. James Richey was born and raised in Central California among the olives, grapes, walnuts, and oranges. Trust us, the good ones stick around! He has now lived in Idaho for almost nine years and calls it home, especially after marrying a beautiful Idaho girl.
Dr. James Richey graduated from Brigham Young University – Idaho with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology and a minor in Dance Pedagogy. He received his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine. He came to love orthodontics through Progressive Orthodontic Seminars Continuing Education courses and enjoys seeing the transformation in people when they are proud of their smile.
Dr. James Richey has interests in so many things, it’s become a bit of a problem. He enjoys archery, shooting, leatherworking, reading, writing, music, gaming, and computers, just to name a few. He’s always got a project in the works, planning another, and is excited to complete projects he hasn’t even thought of yet. He comes from a family of seven, with only one sister! As the youngest of five, he developed into being a good observer of people and learned lessons by watching. He says this helps him detect early course corrections when needed. Dr. James Richey’s upbringing gives him an upper hand in getting along well with people of all ages, with all different types of interests and personalities.
His wife Deanna and two children, Steven and Adalind, are his world, and we can definitively state he is most certainly wrapped around their fingers. However, we can’t blame Dr. Richey for falling for his kids’ puppy eyes… They learned it firsthand from their real puppy, Clancy.
Dr. Tyson Murdock
Dr. Tyson was born in Washington and raised in Idaho Falls. While attending Hillcrest High School – Go Knights! – he, unknowingly, met his future wife, who was attending Idaho Falls High School – obligatory ‘Go Tigers!’ After high school, Dr. Tyson had the amazing opportunity to live in the beautiful country of Venezuela for two years. Because of this, he became fluent in Spanish and mastered his dad’s jokes.
After returning to his hometown, he married his high school sweetheart, Rachelle Woolstenhulme, and off to college they went. Dr. Tyson graduated from ISU, where he earned his degree in zoology and served as the activities director on the student council. This must be where he learned to be the witty doctor we know him as.
After ISU, he packed up his family and moved to Pittsburgh, where he attended the University of Dental Medicine and earned his DMD. He has received training in oral surgery, prosthodontics, pediatrics, endodontics, and special needs sedation dentistry. During dental school, Dr. Tyson served in numerous community outreach programs at public health clinics and participated in the annual "Give Kids a Smile" day at his school. He was also an active member of the Spanish Dental Club at his school.
After graduating from dental school, Dr. Tyson wanted to move back to his hometown and work side by side with his dad, Dr. Murdock. He absolutely loved having his dad as his mentor for 10 years. Dr. Tyson is passionate about dentistry and providing quality care for his patients.
More About Dr. Murdock
Dr. Tyson works with Mountain View Hospital to help the special needs community and young kids achieve dental work through sedation. He is always seeking to increase his knowledge by staying current on dental topics, procedures, and equipment through continuing education. He has completed extra training in clear aligner therapy through ClearCorrect, CEREC crowns and veneers, and implant placement for teeth and denture stability.
Dr. Tyson’s family consists of his beautiful wife, Rachelle, and their two children. He spends many hours listening to his son play the drums or piano, or watching his daughter tumble on the gymnastics mat. He loves helping his wife with her passion for crafting and can often be found in the shop doing woodworking for her. If not in those locations, you can be sure he’s out on the golf course, usually the one yelling at the ball that’s going in the wrong direction!
Dr. Justin Bell
Dr. Justin Bell grew up just outside Idaho Falls, in a home with three boys and three girls. Now, he has his own set of three boys and three girls. He loves anything with a fast engine and enjoys surfing, reading, being outdoors, or doing anything with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Dr. Bell graduated in the first class from Hillcrest High School. He attended Rick’s College, now Brigham Young University – Idaho, and Idaho State University. During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Bell was accepted into a doctoral program by Creighton University through the Idaho Dental Education Program and graduated Cum Laude with his Doctor of Dental Surgery. He began practicing in Idaho Falls in 2000.
Education and staying on the forefront of dental technology have always been central to Dr. Bell’s practice. His passion for technology brought 3D orthodontic fabrication, same-day crowns, and computer-aided digital implant surgery to Foothills Dental before many other dental offices in town. His skills have also earned him hospital privileges at every major hospital in Idaho Falls.
More About Dr. Bell
In 1993, while working in the fishing industry, Dr. Bell was crowned the Ekuk, Alaska, Maple Bar Eating Champion! This is just one of many prestigious awards and accomplishments on his mantel. Others include the International Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy for Academic Merit, honorary membership in the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honors Society, serving as president of the Upper Snake River Dental Society in 2004, and receiving the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership Award in 2016.
Dr. Bell devotes part of his time to helping the disabled. He has a daughter with Rett Syndrome, which has kept him active in volunteering and serving the disabled community for 20 years. His volunteering also extends to church callings and being a member of Idaho’s Boy Scouts National Youth Leadership Training Program, titled Cedar Badge. His care in all that he does is reflected in each dental appointment scheduled with Dr. Bell.
