TMJ - Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The temporomandibular joint is where your lower jaw (mandible) joins the skull at the temporal bone. This joint moves frequently thorughout the day whether eating, talking, or even swallowing. The joint is actually a sliding joint unlike the ball-and-socket joint in the shoulder.

EDUCATING YOURSELF ABOUT TMJ

The following are recommended guidlines from "The TMJ Association, Ltd", a patient based advocacy organization:

Consult Your Medical Doctor
We recommend that you first consult with a medical doctor to rule out any disease that may be causing your symptoms and is treated by medical practitioners. If they are unable to find a reason for your problem, and you are referred to a dentist for a TMJ evaluation, we encourage you to then obtain multiple INDEPENDENT opinions on your condition.

Get an Independent Opinion
To be a truly independent opinion, the medical/dental professional can not be associated with or working with the medical/dental professional from whom you have already received an opinion. Many TMJ patients seek further opinions outside of their geographical area, without the referral of their original medical/dental professional.

Educate Yourself and Others
With the increase of managed care (HMOs), where a primary care physician is your health care gatekeeper it is mandatory that you, the patient, become your own well-informed advocate. You will also need to educate your primary care physician and all others you encounter within the system about TMJ.

INITIAL TREATMENT FOR TMJ:

Three approaches or a combination thereof, may be recommended as initial therapy:

1. Occlusal correction or coronoplasty (reshaping teeth to remove interferences that cause abnormal jaw displacement).

2. Construct an orthotic to orthopedically align the lower jaw to the cranium in three dimensions providing there is an over closure. If symptoms subside after wearing the appliance for three months, crowns may be recommended to maintain the orthopedic position established by the orthotic. Orthododontia may be recommended to avoid crowns. Possibly a combination of orthodontia and crowns will be recommended. When posterior (back) teeth are missing, dentures and /or partials may be recommended.

3. Surgery is the last and least recommended when irreversible damage has occurred in the joints and is beyond natures healing capacity.

 

For More Details on TMJ Visit The Following Sites- Myotronics.com

Do You Get Headaches?

TMJ can cause pain in the blue shaded areas above.

SYMPTOMS The symptoms most commonly cited are as follows: Facial pain Jaw joint pain Back, Neck, cervical pain Postural problems (forward head posture) Pain in the face Limited opening of the mouth Headaches (tension type) Pain in the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints Pain in the occipital (back), temporal (side), frontal (front), or sub-orbital (below the eyes) Pain behind the eyes - dagger and ice pick feelings Multiple bites that feels uncomfortable or, "off," and continually changing Clenching/bruxing Tender sensitive teeth to cold Deviation of the jaw to one side The jaw locking open or closed Ringing in the ears, ear pain, and ear congestion feelings Sinus like symptoms Dizziness or vertigo Visual Disturbances Tingling in fingers and hands Insomnia - difficulty sleeping

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