More Smiles Dental Spa

Friday, May 30, 2008

Signs and Symptoms of TMJ

Thousands and thousands of people live their lives every single day with uncomfortable symptoms of TMD, Temporomandibular Disorder, yet don't realize that this isn't "normal" and would certainly never think to report this to their dentist.

One of our own family members, who had previously worn an NTItss device for jaw joint symptoms, was in the office today for her periodic exam and professional cleaning. She casually mentioned that she had experienced some numbness in her face and that she was going to see an ENT for an ear infection. Dr. Moreau asked her if she had still been wearing her NTItss, and the answer was no. He did a few preliminary palpitations and screening and suspects that the symptoms she is assigning to ear infection are actually radiating from her TMJ. TENSing and EMG in our office next week will confirm or rule that out.

The point is that someone even this close to dentistry can easily misdiagnose, or BE misdiagnosed because they simply didn't think to tell their dentist what they were feeling.

Some Signs and Symptoms that you should definitely report to your dentist, if he or she is trained in neuromuscular dentistry (NM dentistry), are:

Headaches
Dizziness
Neck, shoulder or upper back pain
Jaw Joint pain or clicking/popping noises
Facial pain or numbness
Ear pain or congestion
Sensitive teeth
Clenching or grinding of the teeth, habitually
Ringing in the ears
Limited opening of the jaws

If you've experienced these symptoms, and HAVE mentioned this to your dentist or physician, without proactive response on his or her part, you should consider finding a dentist who has some background in neuromuscular dentistry and ask for evaluation and screening for TMD. An NM dentist won't hesitate to apply the proper protocol for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Labels: neuromuscular dentistry, NM dentist, NM dentistry, TMD, TMJ

posted by MoreSmiles at 5:47 AM 0 comments

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Orthotic Used to Relieve TMJ Pain

In the presence of TMJ pain, once we've documented signs and symptoms, we use special technology to help the teeth, jaw and muscles find their most comfortable, relaxed position. Then an orthotic device, a one-piece prosthesis, is temporarily bonded to the natural teeth surfaces, creating a new biting surface for the patient to try for several months. Symptoms should be relieved and then options are considered for the best long-term solution. This patient is wearing an orthotic in this photo. The upper teeth have already been restored by Dr. Moreau after establishing her new, pain-free "bite" with crowns and veneers. The orthotic proved that her new bite was comfortable and helped guide us in restoring the lower teeth as well. Look closely on the lower teeth and you'll be able to detect a line of shade variation between the top half and lower half of the teeth. The upper half is a bonded orthotic which this patient wore for a period of several months.

As a TMJ doctor, we can focus on the neuromuscular aspects that contribute to painful jaw, muscle and teeth pain, including headaches, and apply principles of neuromuscular dentistry to get rid of pain and restore comfort for the patient.

Labels: neuromuscular dentistry, orthotic, TMJ

posted by MoreSmiles at 6:38 PM 0 comments

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Electronic Stimulation Relaxes Jaw Muscles to Find a Comfortable Bite

If you wake up in the morning with sore jaw muscles or tense neck pain, or if you develop headaches through the day, the cause may be traced to an improper occlusion, or how your teeth come together when you bite down.

Further evidence of a bad bite can also be flat, worn teeth, frequently on the lower front. This wear on the teeth is caused by teeth that hit against each other too hard or by grinding (bruxism). Some people grind their teeth at night and are not even aware they're doing it, yet they wonder why they have sensitive teeth, TMJ (temporamandibular joint) pain, sore muscles at their temples and tender muscles on the side of their face.

This can be diagnosed through a neuromuscular exam in our office, followed by the use of a low-frequency TENS unit (transcutaneous electronic nerve stiumlation). These harmless electronic waves, the same that have been used in physical therapy and chiropractic for decades, do three things: 1) They relieve pain caused by muscle tension as the muscles "fight" with the teeth over where the proper position of your jaws should be. 2) The pulsing of

these muscles brings blood to the area which provides oxygen to heal the inflamed muscle cells. It also flushes out toxins caused by metabolic waste of muscle spasm. 3) Finally, while the muscles are relaxed and comfortable, this pulsing allows the jaws to move into their most relaxed, natural position. Here is where they can feel comfortable and function without causing muscle tension and stress to the TMJ.

Options for the proper final treatement to maintain this new bite can be chosen by you, the patient.

Labels: headaches, neuromuscular dentistry, TMJ

posted by MoreSmiles at 7:14 AM 0 comments