TMJ – Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Without seeing the bigger picture of how your dentistry fits into your overall health could result in dental treatment that may affect your life style and daily comfort.

Many of these dental related signs present themselves very early in childhood development. Narrow dental arches with aberrant tongue posturing problems can impact the teeth contributing to a deep bite syndrome. Facial development may be impaired with decreased nasal breathing (mouth breathing problems) resulting in vaulted upper palates, effecting the tongue posturing and swallowing habits. These abnormalities in turn effect the bite(occlusion) of the teeth and stability of the head, neck and posture.

Worn, chipped or broken teeth with lower teeth crowding are all indicators that mal alignment of the jaws are present. Tipped, lingually inclined teeth are usual indicators of a lower jaw vertical deficiency which in turn effects the jaw muscles and jaw joints. Clicking and popping or grating joints are never normal, but an indication that the disc in the jaw joints are being displaced. (Similar to a displaced disc in the spine). Temporal headaches, facial tenderness (sometimes mimicking sinus problems), jaw pain and pain behind the head/neck region are indicators and red flags that indicate a lack of occlusal support contributing to an upward head posture with cervical neck and shoulder tenderness. Some patients will have unresolved tingling in their hands and fingers with rolled inward shoulders and never once realize that it could be related to a poor bite.

Teeth sensitivity from odd skids in the bite due to poor gearing of the teeth can lead to clenching and grinding of the teeth. Having these signs and symptoms properly resolved by your dentist prior to performing any extensive restorative dentistry is highly recommend and in your best interest. These are just some of the signs and symptoms that people are discovering should not be ignored and relate to their dental treatment.

 

Filed under: Chronic Pain and TMJ, Dental Education, Diagnosis and Treatment, Diagnostics, Jaw Pain, Muscle Pain, Neuromuscular Treatment, Occlusion, Occlusion Connections, Posture and Airway Breathing, Teeth Crowding, Teeth sensitivity, TMJ, TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment, What is TMJ? by Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S.
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What is TMJ?

“TMJ/TMD” – What Is It?

by Clayton A. Chan, DDS, MICCMO
(Originator and author of this content from www.drclaytonchan.com website, revised for this site).

According to the lay person the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) is a term that is often used to identify a multifaceted multi etiologic group of problems that involve both medical as well as dental conditions involving the temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication, the teeth/occlusion as well as the central nervous system. TMJ is more appropriately called TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or Dysfunction).

• Facial pain
• Jaw joint pain
• Back, Neck, cervical pain
• Postural problems (forward head posture)
• Pain in the face
• Limited opening of the mouth (commonly known as “Locked Jaw”)
• Headaches (tension type)
• Pain in the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints
• Pain in the occipital (back), temporal (side), frontal (front), or sub-orbital (below the eyes)
• Pain behind the eyes – dagger and ice pick feelings
• Multiple bites that feels uncomfortable or, “off,” and continually changing
• Clenching/bruxing
• Tender sensitive teeth to cold
• Deviation of the jaw to one side
• The jaw locking open or closed
• Ringing in the ears, ear pain, and ear congestion feelings
• Sinus like symptoms
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Visual Disturbances
• Tingling in fingers and hands
• Insomnia – difficulty sleeping

Common TMJ problems that can occur with the temporomandibular joint are disc disorders or internal derangements of the disc, disc locations, tearing of the lateral and medial collateral ligaments due to traumatic injuries, inflammatory disorders as synovitis/capsulities, inflammatory arthritis, capsular fibrosis, ankyosis, subluxations, spontaneous dislocations, chronic (recurrent disc locations) contributing to clicks and audible popping sounds. Fractures and hemarthrosis within the TM Joint should also be considered. Masticatory disorders (muscle pain), chronic mandibular hypo-mobility, mandibular hyper-mobility, growth disorders of the jaw (i.e. coronoid hyperplasia), and functional abnormal jaw closure patterns also be recognized. Common misdiagnosis’ are fibromyalgia, migraineous head pain, neuralgias of the masticatory system as well as cervical/neck/ shoulder and back pain.

To read more about Initial Treatment for TMJ

Various experts have tried to identify this problem with various names such as: “TMJ”, Craniomandibular Dysfunction (CMD), Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD), Myofacial Pain Dysfunction (MPD), Cranio-facial Dysfunction (CFD), and Musculoskeletal Dysfunction. Depending on which philosophical belief and school of thought dental experts and clinicians believe that it relates to the lack of coordination between the muscles of mastication, the jaw joints, the teeth and the central nervous system. Academics may also call it Cranio-mandibular/ Neurovasomuscular/Cervical Dysfunction. Third party insurance groups may recognize it as, Musculoskeletal Dysfunction (MSD) of the head and neck resulting in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. Still others may identify it as a cranio-facial or orofacial disorder.

Read more on The Controversy of What to Call the TMJ Problem

Read more on the Musculoskeletal Dysfunction (MSD) of the Head and Neck Resulting in Temporomandibular (Jaw) Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

Neuromuscular Dentistry

Filed under: Chronic Pain and TMJ, Diagnosis and Treatment, Electromyography, Jaw Tracking, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Neuromuscular Dentistry LVI, Neuromuscular Dentistry Treatment, Neuromuscular Instrumentation, Neuromuscular Treatment, Neuromusular Dentistry, Occlusion Connections, Posture and Airway Breathing, TMJ Neuromuscular Forum, Tomography, What is TMJ? by Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S.
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