TMD: DIAGNOSIS

With more than $1.2 billion spent on prescription pain relievers and 700 million man-days of work lost each year, the consequences of failing to accurately diagnose TMD are all too real for patients.

Overlapping, subjective symptoms.

Musculoskeletal, neurological and neurovascular involvement.

The very real emotional and psychological toll of being in chronic pain.

These aspects TMD make diagnosis a complex, often daunting process. They also explain why physicians and dentists who are not board-certified orofacial and craniofacial pain specialists may miss a potential TMJ disorder in a patient that is suffering from chronic head, neck and/or facial pain.

What Should a TMD Exam Include?

TMD may have a single cause or it may be multifactorial. That’s why a thorough and complete clinical evaluation -- performed by a qualified dental professional – is essential. At a minimum, this exam should include:

To confirm a TMD diagnosis, it may also be necessary to:

• Complete diagnostic x-rays (i.e., panograms and tomograms).
• Schedule you for an MRI .
• Schedule you for specialized physiologic and/or psychometric tests, and/or
• Consult with your doctors.

Who Will Benefit?

Anyone who suffers from chronic head, neck and/or facial pain will benefit from a thorough exam and, if indicated, treatment by a dentist who specializes in TMJ-related pain and dysfunction. This is especially true if standard medical evaluation and diagnostic testing has failed to reveal the cause of your head, neck or facial pain. Today, 75% of the U.S. population has experienced signs or symptoms of TMD. An estimated 5-10% will require specialized dental and oral therapies, with less than 3% of these patients requiring surgery in order to gain relief.

Early Diagnosis is Key.

TMJ is often a chronic, degenerative disorder. Jaw-joint related pain and dysfunction worsens over time. As symptoms become more severe, your treatment options also become more limited. That’s why we believe TMD should be ruled out as part of the differential diagnosis of all patients with head, neck and/or facial pain.

For a simple TMD screening test, click here.

For information about what to expect and how to prepare for your first appointment, click here.