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Many people suffer with pain associated with a condition called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) which is commonly called TMJ (TMJ is actually the initial of the joint itself).
If you find yourself suffering from:
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• Headaches
• Worn, Chipped or Cracked Teeth
• Cracked or Broken Dental Restorations
• Pain or Soreness In the Jaw Joint or Ears
• Facial Pain
• Neck, Shoulder or Back Pain
• Cracking, With or Without Pain, In the Jaw Joint
• Limited Jaw Movements
We may be able to help.
The underlying condition that causes the combination of these symptoms is usually structural and biomechanical in its nature. These underlying conditions often over stimulate the muscles associated with jaw function.
To relieve the symptoms associated with TMD, the jaw is repositioned to allow for the relaxation of the muscles associated with jaw function. This reposition and relaxation is accomplished with appliance therapy. The dental device repositions the misaligned jaw and compensates for worn, broken or missing teeth. Once the pain has been relieved, long term bite corrections can be considered.
Here the patient presented with a collapse bite which created too much pressure in the area where the jaw bone hinges against the base of the skull, the Temporomandibular Joint. This pressure created headaches and jaw pain. The jaw position had slipped back too far and this also contributed to the pressure on the TMJ, not to mention the esthetic compromise to the smile. To relieve the pressure an appliance was inserted and a new slightly open and forward jaw position was established. Once the pain was alleviated, temporary restorations and ultimately final restorations were made to the new jaw position.
In this situation, the patient has ground down the teeth. The reduction in the height of the teeth caused too much pressure on the TMJ and created headaches and pain. The esthetic compromise is evident from the condition of the teeth. Here the plan was to open the bite to provide room for the restorations, reestablish the correct jaw position and alleviate the TMJ discomfort. The appliance repositioned the jaw in the desired location and alleviated all symptoms while providing space for the restorations. The final restorations were fabricated to the position established by the appliance.
If you suffer form some of the conditions listed above or the way your teeth come together looks like what you have seen above, please feel free to contact the office for a TMJ examination.