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Many people suffer from jaw, face,
neck, back and shoulder pain, dizziness, and earaches.
They may also suffer fullness, blocked or ringing
ears, chronic fatigue, irritability, difficulty swallowing,
and arthritis like joint pain. These cases are frequently
unrecognized by the physicians (physician) whose standard
training has not equipped them to understand the relationship
between teeth, the jaw bones, jaw joints and the subsequent
alignment of the jaws and the rest of the body. Not
all 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 medications
and using treatments that fail to bring relief, and
even having needless surgery when the pain becomes
unbearable. At times patients are 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, chances are you would get relief from a
dentist. If you suffer from frequent headaches, please
tell us. We can perform a thorough examination to
see if this head pain is related to your jaw, face
or neck.
| What
is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) |
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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 bone (mandible) 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 this perfect facial balance can
trigger the cycle characteristic of TMJ disorders,
which affect muscles and joints on all areas of
the face, jaw, neck, and back. When muscles and
joints are not working together correctly, muscle
spasm and joint inflammation can result producing
pain and dysfunction. |
| What is TMJ
dysfunction? |
For reasons that vary from patient
to patient, one or both temporomandibular joints
may fail to move or function 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 they hear and feel a loud pop,
at which point, the jaw actually unlocks. |
| What
are the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction? |
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| • |
Popping or grating sensations
in the jaw joint during movement. |
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Restrictions of normal opening and jaw
movements. |
| • |
Headaches |
| • |
Inability to close the teeth together
without pain, dislocation of the jaw, or
locking of the jaw. |
| • |
Facial Pain |
| • |
Neck Pain |
| • |
Ear pain, ringing and/or fullness. |
| • |
Dizziness. |
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| 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. Though, these
problems can occur at any age; male, female; and
any race. |
| What causes
TMJ dysfunction? |
Research has shown that many
factors may Cause TMJ conditions. TMJ dysfunction
can occur by itself or be a part of a more complex
problem. Typically, there is more than one factor
responsible for TMJ dysfunction. Some of the causes
may be:
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Trauma, such as an automobile
accident. |
| • |
Improper occlusion (bite). |
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Psychological factors, including stress.
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Nervous habits. |
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Clenching and grinding of the teeth. |
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Neuromuscular imbalances. |
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Inflammation of the joint. |
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Rheumatoid arthritis. |
| • |
Osteoarthritis (degenerative). |
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| 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.
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| What
type of treatment will be necessary? |
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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 jaw splint, an orthopedic
device, which is worn to reduce the loads and
stresses on the TM joints, muscles and soft tissues
and allow the body to heal.
Physiotherapy modalities are often required to
return the muscles to normal comfort and function.
These might include moist heat, ultra-sound, massage,
stretches, 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 evaluation of the TMJ and
surrounding structures involves a complete oral
examination. We check for tenderness in the muscles
and try to detect any sounds made by the joints
during opening and closing of the jaw. The jaw
is evaluated for its range of motion, deviation
to the side during opening and any discrepancy
in the occlusion (bite). General skeletal alignment
is also assessed. Additionally, CT Cone Beam X-Ray’s
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. |
TMJ
& Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers
of Wisconsin
Central Center • 2626 N. 76th Street,
Suite #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53213 •
414-476-9400
Waukesha Center • 2727 N. Grandview
Boulevard, Suite #100, Waukesha, WI 53188
• 262-547-9422
Kenosha/Racine Center • 3500 Meachem,
Racine, WI 53405 • 262-598-9901
Northeast Center • 200 W. Silver
Spring Drive, Suite #310, Milwaukee, WI
53217 • 414-962-3100
Appleton/Green Bay Center • W3132
Van Roy Road, Appleton, WI 54915 •
920-882-1710
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