Many people suffer from dizziness, earaches, face, head and neck, shoulder, and back pain. They may also suffer chronic fatigue, irritability, blocked or ringing ears, difficulty swallowing, temporary loss of memory, and arthritis like joint pain, or numbness in parts of the body that seem to have no relation to the teeth and the jaws. These cases are frequently unrecognized by the physicians who's standard training has not equipped them to understand the relationship between teeth, the jaw bones and the subsequent alignment of the jaws and the rest of the body. Many dentists are also unaware of how closely their work is linked to a patient's general health and their subsequent head and neck pain.

Consequently, thousands of chronic sufferers go from one medical specialty to another taking potent drugs, which fail to bring relief, and even having needless surgery when the pain becomes unbearable or being referred to psychiatrists who cannot help them because these experts are concentrating on the symptoms without recognizing the cause.

Temporomandibular joint disorders cause strained facial muscles and leads to tension discomfort and pain. Almost 92 percent of all recurring headaches come from a TMJ problem according to recent research. Also, according to this recent research, almost one quarter of the population suffers some form of craniomandibular (TMJ) disorder. If you have recurring headaches or jaw pain, the chances are better that you would get relief from a dentist rather than a neurologist, surgeon, or a psychiatrist. If you suffer from frequent headaches, please tell us. We can perform an extensive, thorough examination to see if this head pain is related to your teeth, mouth, jaw or misalignment.

What is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)?

The temporomandibular joint or jaw joint in the most unique joint in the entire body. It is actually two joints in one. Since we have two jaw joints, one on each side of the head, which are joined together by the lower jaw, it is truly a double-double joint. The two temporomandibular joints can differ in size, shape and even in function.

The temporomandibular joints are joints located on either side of the face that connect the lower jaw to the skull. The joints work in synergy with the facial bones and multiple pairs of muscles to allow opening and closing of the mouth and the forward, backward, rotational, and side-to-side movements of the lower jaw. Any disturbance of the perfect facial balance can trigger the cycle characteristic of TMJ disorders, which affect muscles and joints on all areas of the Face, neck, and back. When muscles and joints are not working together correctly, muscle spasm can result which produces pain and dysfunction.

What is TMJ dysfunction?

For reasons that vary from patient to patient, one or both temporomandibular joints may fail to move properly. This relatively common disorder is termed TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ CLICKING….is the most common symptom of a TMJ disorder. This clicking sound may be so loud that others can hear it while you chew. There may or may not be pain in the joint itself with the sound of a click or pop. But, one thing is for sure; if there is a displaced disc, as is usually the case when a click occurs, then the muscles that move the jaw while chewing are more tense than normal. This tenseness can and does cause muscle, facial, head and neck pain.

TMJ LOCKING….may be noticed simply by the catching of the lower jaw as it opens. Sometimes, the person with a locked joint must move the jaw to one side or another in order to open wide. Or, a person might have to open until he hears and feels a loud pop, at which point, the jaw actually unlocks.

What are the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction?

Each affected individual may experience one or different combinations of these common symptoms:

• Pain of varying intensity around one or both ears, in the temples or in the neck.
• Popping or grating sensations in the joint during movement.
• Restrictions of normal opening and jaw movements.
• Severe or recurring headaches
• Inability to close the teeth together without pain, dislocation of the jaw, or locking of the jaw.
• Occasional hearing loss or pain in the ears.
• Dizziness and ringing ears.

Who is affected by TMJ dysfunction?

Anyone at any age can be afflicted with TMJ dysfunctions, but the condition seems more likely to occur as a person ages. It appears to be more common in women than men. Individuals suffering from all forms of arthritis are also more likely to exhibit TMJ symptoms.

What causes TMJ dysfunction?

Research has shown that many factors may lead to the problem. TMJ dysfunction can occur by itself or be a part of a more complex problem. We believe that there is usually more than one factor responsible for TMJ dysfunction. Some of the causes may be:

• Trauma, such as an automobile accident.
• Improper occlusion (bite).
• sychological factors, including stress.
• Nervous habits.
• Clenching and grinding of the teeth.
• Neuromuscular imbalances.
• Inflammation of the joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis (degenerative).

Who can tell me if I have one of these conditions?

Your dentist, oral surgeon, orthodontist, physician or therapist can provide a screening for the existence and extent of TMJ dysfunction. To coordinate a complete plan of treatment, we may consult with other dental specialists, physicians or psychologists. A comprehensive examination needs to be provided by a clinic such as ours.

What type of treatment will be necessary?

Treatment for TMJ problems varies from simple measures to extensive therapy. At times, the most important treatment is what you do for yourself. Physical therapy, exercises, nutrition therapy and the use of stress reduction techniques often provide extensive benefit. We may choose to start treatment with some of these approaches or use them in combination with a more traditional treatment plan.

The most common treatment is the repositioning appliance, or splint, which is used to change a patient's occlusion (bite) and jaw posture and help the TMJ function correctly.

Physiotherapy modalities are often required to return the muscles to normal comfort and function. These might include moist heat, ultra-sound, transcutaneous electro-neural stimulation (TENS) or electro-galvanic stimulation (EGS).

If these conservative treatments are not sufficient, we may recommend evaluation by other practitioners. An orderly, step-by-step evaluation and treatment plan is established to provide the most effective care for you.

How is the diagnosis made?

The usual evaluation of the TMJ involves a complete oral examination. We check for tenderness in the muscles and try to detect any sounds made by the joints during opening. The jaw is evaluated for its range of motion, deviation to one side during opening and any discrepancy in the occlusion (bite). General skeletal alignment is also assessed. Additionally, radiographs allow us to see actual pictures of the joint components and their relative state of health. Other medical and/or dental tests may be recommended.