What is TMJ?

TMJ is Temporo Mandibular Joint disorder. We recognize that if the muscles that move the jaw should be in a comfortable relaxed position in order for them to work in harmony with the teeth and joint. When an imbalance occurs between these three anatomical structures a patient will experience TMJ symptoms.

What are the common symptoms that occur when teeth, jaws and muscles are in conflict?

Common problems include the following: Headaches, loose teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, clenching or grinding, ditched root grooves, pain or clicking in joints, shoulder and neck pain, facial pain, ringing or congestion in ears.

Do you deal with the spine, or just everything above that?

We'll often work with doctors who can align the top vertebrae in the neck, because if the vertebra is not aligned it will have an effect on what the neck and the jaw do, and vice versa, if the jaw isn't working right, it will have a significant effect on what the top vertebrae and the neck do too.

What exactly is involved in the process of fixing TMJ?

The first step is to diagnose the problem. When patients come to see us we take a thorough medical history to rule out any other reasons why you may be having TMJ like symptoms. We often ask the patient to see their family physician to also investigate symptoms relating to light headness, dizziness, ringing ears. After the initial medical investigation shows no sign of pathology, we take the next step and conduct a thorough exam of your joint, dentition, and jaw muscles. There are a few signs that will indicate whether you have TMJ. For example sensitive teeth that appear completely normal and bone overgrowths in the jaw will reinforce the diagnosis of TMJ disorder.

We then will measure the jaw muscle activity using a electromyogram. We place electrodes on the muscle involved with opening and closing the jaw, we then will measure the various states of contraction. The muscles are like elastic bands, working in harmony to either opening or closing the jaw. In TMJ cases we see an imbalance in the way the muscles contract. It then becomes the goal to place the muscles in a relaxed position. We do this with a TENS device, the TENS will use an ultra low frequency that essentially unwinds the muscles into this relaxed position. Based on this relaxed position we fabricate a plastic appliance which the patient will wear over their bottom teeth. This plastic applicance is called an orthotic. The patient would wear the orthotic over the course of 4 months and during this time we will adjust the orthotic based on the achieving the most relaxed position of the muscles. During this time the TMJ symptoms will be alleviated as the joint, teeth and jaw muscles are working in balance.

If somebody's has some of the symptoms that you described, what should their next step be?

TMJ disorder is very frustrating. Most patients have seen many doctors and still have no relief. It is important to see a dentist trained in dealing with TMJ disorder. The dentist will be able to recognize the symptoms and problems of TMJ. Once the initial assessment is done and diagnosis is made we then go ahead with making the orthotic.

Think you might need TMJ treatment? Contact us to be seen by Dr. Marke Pederson...

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