TMJ Treatment can provide relief for headaches (migraines),
head and neck pain, jaw clicking or popping, and worn or sensitive
teeth from grinding and clenching.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Disorders are thought to cause 90% of all
headaches and neck pain. New techniques in tooth design can allow the lower jaw to function farther away from the skull.
This provides more space
for the TMJ to function in a healthier position. The decreased pressure on the TMJ usually
provides patients with relief from headaches and neck pain.
"After
taking prescription pain medications for my migraine headaches
for more than 10 years, I am finally pain free and don’t need
drugs anymore. I can’t believe how easy it was."
Jan
Phoenix, Az
Call for a complimentary consultation to see how you can eliminate headaches and pain with TMJ treatment, benefit
from safe,
non-surgical dental facelift and revolutionary cosmetic
dental procedures
Before
After
TMJ Repositioning
"Headaches, neck and shoulder pain were
completely gone a few days after my lower jaw was moved forward.”
"My jaw cracked so loud
you could hear it across the table. The noise was eliminated
immediately after my jaw was brought forward, and never has returned !”
The lower jaw was moved forward to
treat TMJ Dysfunction for this patient. The treatment also provided tremendous
support to the patient’s facial skin, making her look 5 to 10 years younger.
How does TMJ cause
headaches, facial pain, etc…?
Misalignment of the jaw and disorder in the joints causes the symptoms
of TMD in two ways:
First, around the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint itself
are nerves and blood vessels that lead to other areas of the head
and neck.
When the TMJs and jaw are misaligned, muscle spasms result in excessive pressure
on these nerves and blood vessels, causing pain in the head, neck and shoulder areas. The problem is not in the actual area where the pain is perceived. This is similar to a problem in the joints of your spine causing numbness or pain
in other regions of the body, such as your hands or feet.
Secondly,
TMD can cause pain as a result of the balance of the muscles
associated with the jaw and skull.
The jaw
has a precise optimal position for creating balance and harmony
in the muscles that attach to it.
If this balance is disrupted, as is the case
in TMD, these muscles become irritated, experience muscle fatigue, spasm, and eventually pain.
Anatomy of the
Temporomandibular Joint.
Regions of highest pain intensity leading
to
headaches/head & neck pain from TMJ/TMD.
What is TMJ Dysfunction (TMD) ?
The term “TMJ Dysfunction” describes
an imbalance in the relationship of the jaw to the skull. This
imbalance causes two problems for those that suffer from it. First,
it leads to improper alignment of the Temporomandibular Joints
(TMJs) which connect these two bones. Secondly, it creates disharmony
in the muscles which attach to the bones.
The cascade of painful symptoms that arise solely
from these two problems is staggering to most people. Although
most times the pain is not actually in the TMJs themselves, you can
feel your own by pressing your fingers just in front of your ears
and opening and closing your mouth.
Causes of TMJ/TMD
Those that suffer from TMD have an improper jaw-to-skull
relationship caused by malocclusion (a bad bite). This “bad bite” can
be caused by excessive wearing down of teeth due to clenching or grinding
of the teeth (bruxism), a traumatic injury such as a car accident, or
simply a bite that develops out of alignment as one grows.
Normal TMJ Animation..
When the mouth opens, two distinct motions
occur at the joint.
The first motion is ROTATION around a horizontal axis through the condylar
heads.
The second motion is TRANSLATION.
The condyle and meniscus move together
interiorly beneath the articular eminence.
In the closed mouth position, the thick posterior band of the meniscus
lies immediately above the condyle. As the condyle translates forward,
the thinner intermediate zone of the meniscus becomes the articulating
surface between the condyle and the articular eminence. When the
mouth is fully open, the condyle may lie beneath the anterior band
of the meniscus.
Abnormal TMJ Animation..
Anterior Displacement With Reduction
INTERNAL DERANGEMENT of the TMJ is present when
the posterior band of the meniscus is anteriorly displaced infront
of the condyle. As the meniscus translates anteriorly, the
posterior band remains in front of the condyle and the bilaminar
zone becomes abnormally stretched and attenuated. Often the
displaced posterior band will return to its normal position when
the condyle reaches a certain point. This derangement causes
you to hear a "popping" or "clicking" sound in your ear.
Anterior Displacement Without Reduction
In some patients the meniscus remains anteriorly
displaced at full opening. Patients with anterior displacement
without reduction often cannot fully open their mouths.
Sometimes
there is a tear or perforation of the meniscus. Grinding
noises in the joint are often present.
This is a much more
severe condition than the "Popping" TMJ.
It leads to osteoarthritis of the jaw joint.
The joint breaks down and results in a receding chin and protruding
teeth as time goes by. If the displaced disc is pressing against
the inner ear, you will probably get subjective hearing loss and other
ear symptoms.
Treatment Options for TMJ..
The first phase of treatment involves diagnosing and treating
the patient’s pain and muscle spasms. Often the patient will wear an appliance
for 6 to 8 weeks to determine the bite position that is best for the patient’s
TMJ. Once this bite position is found, it can be maintained
permanently by several approaches, depending on which treatment is best
for your case.
The four most typical treatments are:
Coronoplasty/Equilibration Coronoplasty
is smoothing and reshaping the enamel of the teeth to correct your bite.
It is a simple procedure that does not require anesthesia and can be
used when the bite is only slightly misaligned.
Removable
Overlay Partials This is a permanent, removable appliance that usually
fits over the back teeth and is designed to maintain an aligned bite.
Reconstruction This
approach involves making the teeth higher by using crowns. This permanently
realigns the bite and provides structural support for the jaw.
Orthodontics
(Braces)
When the teeth are healthy they may be moved to
the optimal position using braces.
" I had headaches for as long as
I can remember, and the physicians I saw could never find the cause
or provide me with relief. The day after my jaw was repositioned
I was headache free, and 1 year later I am still free from headaches. "
