TMJ / TMD (temporomandibular joint syndrome or dysfunction) refers to
the symptoms that develop when the teeth, facial muscles, and temporomandibular
joints are out of alignment.
TMJ is a disorder that is commonly ignored or misdiagnosed. Although the
vast majority of North Americans suffer from TMJ, most do not relate their
pain and/or symptoms to a “bad bite”. Many people with TMJ
are not treated correctly as a result.
Symptoms include:
- Headaches / Migraines
- Facial pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Unexplained loose teeth
- Sensitive and sore teeth
- Jaw pain
- Limited jaw movement or locking jaw
- Numbness in the fingers and arms
- Worn or cracked teeth
- Clicking or popping in the jaw joints
Our goal is to provide you excellence in service and care and an individualized,
exceptional dental experience.
We focus on you as a whole person. You deserve the best care, service
and technology that dentistry has available.
Jaw Disorders
Q. How do Neuromuscular Dentists diagnose Jaw Disorder (TMJ/TMD)
symptoms?
Jaw Disorder (TMJ / TMD) Diagnosis
Our office is equipped with state-of-the-art technology which helps us
determine if your symptoms are caused by jaw displacement (malocclusion)
and if so, what your optimal jaw position is.
We use computerized jaw tracking instruments to record jaw movement, resting
position, and path of closure. Electromyography is used to measure your
jaw’s muscle function in both its stressed and relaxed positions,
and also measures the jaw-to-skull relationship to see if there is a structural
imbalance. Sonography is used to record jaw joint sounds to detect any
abnormalities. Additionally, x-rays of the jaw may be taken to help evaluate
the condition and positioning of the joint.
Q. How do Neuromuscular Dentists treat TMJ/TMD symptoms?
TMJ / TMD Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with TMJ, a neuromuscular dentist can determine
the best course of treatment for your specific needs. Typically treatment
will follow three steps:
- Relieve muscle spasm and pain.
The immediate priority for neuromuscular dentists is to provide relief
of your symptoms. The best way to do this is to relax muscles with
a gentle massage of the muscles using ULF-TENS (Ultra Low Frequency
Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation). The rhythmic pulsing
relaxes the muscles by increasing blood flow and pumping out waste
products, plus stimulates the body’s production of endorphins,
the body’s natural anesthetic.
- Stabilize the bite.
Generally the second step is to fit you with a temporary device, an orthotic,
to be worn over your teeth. We then make adjustments to re-shape the
orthotic without adjusting the teeth until the bite is stabilized.
Once symptoms are relieved and the bite has been stabilized, we will
permanently adjust your bite to the correct position.
- Permanent bite correction.
There are a variety of ways to correct your bite in a more permanent
way. Four of the most common of these approaches are:
- Coronoplasty/Equilibration - smoothing and reshaping the enamel of
the teeth to correct your bite; does not require anesthesia and can be
used when the bite is only slightly misaligned.
- Removable Overlay Partials - orthotics that usually fit over the back
teeth, designed to maintain an aligned bite.
- Reconstruction - involves making the teeth higher by using crowns to
realign the bite and provide permanent structural support for the jaw.
- Orthodontics (Braces) - healthy teeth can be moved to the optimal position
using braces.
