It's one of the most common dental problems, pain and soreness in the jaw known as temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJ.

Now, there's a new treatment that looks a bit strange, but it seems to be working.

John Holland has suffered jaw pain since his youth.

"It got worse and worse to the point I thought I would be eating baby food for the next couple of years," Holland said.

But now, he can go back to a healthy diet, thanks to a new treatment that's bringing him relief.

The dentist zaps the jaw with radio waves, and it's painless.

"It was tested and developed at Tufts Dental School," dentist Evetta Shwartzman said. "It creates a low-level electrical stimulation to the joint which increases blood flow. The patient has instant relief of pain to the joint."

Each side of the jaw is zapped a few times. The entire session takes only a few minutes and then Holland was on his way.

"Little bit of warmth involved, but other than that it was the easiest thing," Holland said.

The normal course of treatment involves six sessions spaced over two weeks. But keep in mind, the pain relief is temporary and the treatment needs to be repeated every six to 12 months. The cost runs about $40 a session or $240 for the entire course of treatment, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reported.

TMJ has many causes, including teeth grinding, tension, worn cartilage or injuries.

This new treatment is getting great results, so more and more dental offices are starting to offer it.

Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and WBAL-TV 11 NEWS for the latest news updates.