TMJ Treatment Center

Braces/Teeth Alignment

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:45:33 +0000

There are many reasons teeth become crowded. Most of the time crowded teeth pose no problem to the heath of a person. Sometime crowed teeth may be due to periodontal disease, which causes bone lost. Lost of tooth structure from decay can also cause teeth to be crowded.
Modern orthodontic technique can correct many of these crowding problems. After teeth are aligned, flossing teeth can be easier and teeth keep clean longer.

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TMJ Disorder

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:25:21 +0000

TMJ Disorder is not a stand-alone problem. There are numerous causes for TMJ problems. TMJ Problems involve more than a single factor. TMJ problems can originate from the teeth, the tm joint itself, from the jaw muscles, or from other aggravating factors, such as trauma, both physical and mental. There are many names like TMD, TMJD, MFP, OFP, and MPD associated with this joint problem. These are not necessarily different problems but different terminology describing variants of TMJ related problems.

Restorative Dentistry

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:13:04 +0000

High-carbohydrate diet can cause various degrees of tooth decay and fractures. The severity of decay requires different method of repairs. Technique can be a simple composite filling, a crown, an inlay, a root canal, and even implants. Extraction of a tooth should only be the last resort.

Preventive Dentistry

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:56:09 +0000

My idea of dental health is quite simple. Just floss the teeth you want to keep. There are five surfaces to a tooth. A hundred dollar or a 50¢ tooth brush cannot get in between and clean the teeth. So just floss only the one you want to keep.

Early detection is also important in keeping your teeth healthy. Seeing your dentist every six months help detect problems sooner and help clean out that stuff you have accumulated between your teeth over the past six months.

Healthy teeth help you chew your food, but the most important function is supporting your face. People with healthy gum and teeth look younger.

Sleep Apnea

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:31:55 +0000

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) most likely is due to your tongue position. The tongue determines the opening of the oral pharynx. As early as the 1940s, many studies pointed to the position of the tongue’s important in maintaining the airway. If you snore a lot, next time you visit a dentist, ask for a tongue examination and do a sleep apnea exam also.
It is important to know that OSA, TMD, and Bad Bite not a stand-alone problem. They are all inter-related like the moon goes around the earth, and the earth goes around the sun.

Who should I see for my TMJ problems?

admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:59:16 +0000

One of the major causes of TMJ problems is the teeth and the related muscles. A dentist who is well trained in the area of TMJ is the best place to start as well as other professionals who have TMJ experience . Treatment based on evidence is always better than belief.

Treatment at the TMJ Treatment Center starts with a thorough diagnosis (exam) and is tailored to each patient’s individual pain problem. Since no two people are alike no one treatment can be assumed. At the Indiana TMJ Treatment Center we use cutting edge technology like 3D digital equipment to painlessly evaluate the source of each person’s problem. Our extensive experience and success can provide you the best treatment in the least amount of time possible. In many cases a patient’s symptoms can be relieved in as little as two to three days, although we cannot guarantee you will be cured. As mentioned before, each patient is different and responds differently to treatment.

This information is FYI only. It is not intended to provide treatment or recommend treatment by any means or methods. Any health problems need careful diagnosis by your attending doctors.

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What is some of the terminology associated with the treatment of TMJ?

admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:26:24 +0000

The term “treatment” is related to cure, relief, therapy, recovery and solution.
Some of the treatments are referred to as alternative, natural, noninvasive, nonsurgical and physical therapy.
Treatment may involve exercise, relaxation, meditation, massage, moist heat, diet, nutrition, supplements.
Some TMJ treatments involve products, devices, protheses, appliance, braces, night mouth guards.
The person involved in treatment is often a Doctor, Dentist, Otolaryngologist . Other specialists and health care experts may be involved.
A patient may seek treatment in a center, clinic, office, institute or other health organization.
The patient should consult their insurance to see what costs are covered. Not all insurance network doctors treat TMJ problems.
Prescription or over-the-counter medication may involve an anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxants.

The following information is FYI only. It is not intended to provide treatment or recommend treatment by any means or methods. Any health problems need careful diagnosis by your attending doctors.

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How is TMJ Disorder treated?

admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:14:19 +0000

TMJ problems can originate from the teeth, the TM Joint itself, from the jaw muscles, or from other aggravating factors such as trauma, both physical and mental. Most TMJ problems are a combination of many causes. Different causes result in different symptoms. The symptoms resulting from teeth problems will be much different from those resulting from the muscles. Teeth relationships (how upper and lower teeth fit together) can cause bruxism, and injury to the jaw muscles as well as the temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint itself can be damaged from excessive jaw muscle forces from an unbalanced teeth relationship. It is important for the TMJ sufferer to understand that the disorder can be acute and chronic in nature and highly dependent upon the interaction of the multiple factors. Jaw, head and neck muscles can also cause multiple headaches and facial pain.

Even though there is no quick fix, identifying and beginning to treat the causes most likely will relieve the symptoms. Our treatment protocol is to treat the cause of the problems and not just treat the symptoms.

This information is FYI only. It is not intended to provide treatment or recommend treatment by any means or methods. Any health problems need careful diagnosis by your attending doctors.

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How many TMJ disorders exist?

admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:57:31 +0000

Current literatures contain a wide array of confusing definitions for terms such as CFP, CFD, MFP, MPD, CMD, CMP, CMDS, TMD, TMJ, TMJD, OFD, OFP, MMD, AFP and many others. Terms used are depending on who is using the term. Each term means something to some one but means something totally different to others.

TMJ problems can be categorized into the following groups.

Group I describes problems of the TM joint. Examples are as follows:

TMJD, Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction/Disorder is a functional problem of the mandible specifically related to the temporal area and the TM joint. Putting it differently, T represents occlusion, M represents muscle, J represents joints, and D represents dysfunctions. This is the same as TMD as defined by NIDCR.

TMJP, Temporomandibular Joint Pain is a description of pain in the TM joint area.

TMJ, Temporomandibular Joint is an anatomical term only. It should never be used to describe a disease, dysfunctional problem, pain, and or syndrome. TM joint problems can be diagnosed by tomography, MRI, and arthrography.

Group II is for all the terms related to muscles. Within this group are two subgroups. All muscle problems are diagnosed with muscle palpations, ROM measurements, and nerve testing.

Subgroup One describes the dysfunction problems involving mostly the jaw muscles. All terms ending with a D can be put into this group, which includes CFD, MPD, CMD, CMDS, OFD, MMD.
CFD, Craniofacial dysfunction describes the dysfunction between the systems related to the face and head. The cranium does not have an easily measurable range of motion, so any measurable dysfunction is in the mandibular range of motion. These functional problems are related to facial structure and how the teeth fit together, how the muscles function and how the joint functions.
MPD, Myofascial pain dysfunction describes a functional problem of the mandible with pain. This functional problem is related to disturbed occlusal mechanics, and mostly muscular in origin (Dr. J.Travell).
CMD, Craniomandibular Disorder describes the functional problem of the mandible. This functional problem relates to how the teeth fit together, how the muscles function and how the joint functions.
CMDS, Cranio-mandibular Dysfunction Syndrome describes a collage of symptoms indicating abnormal conditions, both disease and psychological disorders. The known cause has not yet been discovered.
TMD, Temporomandibular Dysfunction describes the dysfunction between the systems related to the temporal region of the head and lower jaw. NIDCR defined TMD as a group of conditions affecting the jaw joints and the muscles that control the jaw.
MMD, Masticatory muscle disorder as defined by Dr. J. Okeson include muscle splinting, local muscle soreness, trigger point pain, myospasm, and centrally mediated myalgia.

Subgroup Two describes pain, which can result from muscular dysfunction. All the terms ending with P can be included in this group, which includes MFP, CMP, AFP and OFP.

MFP Myofascial Pain is pain in the fascial system of the body and involves muscles. Fascia is the connective tissue found everywhere in your body that holds all of your organs in place. When fascia malfunctions due to injury, illness, surgery or poor posture, it becomes tight and binds down, resulting in abnormal pressure on nerves, muscles, bones or organs of the body. Restriction in one region can put a ³drag² on the fascia in any other direction. In TMJ disorders, professionals tend to look primarily at the muscles of the upper body and head. While this is the main site of pain, the rest of the body should not be overlooked. Myofascial pain occurs throughout the body and affects how healing takes place.
CMP, Chronic Myofascial Pain is myofascial pain in fascia and muscles of the head, neck, all the way to the toes.
OFP, Orofacial Pain is pain in teeth and face including facial muscles.
AFP, Atypical Facial Pain is the pain occurring in the territory of the trigeminal nerve with no specific cause (Dr. James H. Halsey, University of Alabama Medical Center).

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What are the symptoms of TMJ?

admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:39:58 +0000

TMJ problems involve more than a single factor. There are numerous causes for TMJ problems. TMJ problems can originate from the teeth, the TM Joint itself, from the jaw muscles, or from other aggravating factors, such as trauma, both physical and mental.

Most TMJ problems are a combination of the above-mentioned causes. Different causes result in different symptoms. The symptoms resulting from teeth problems will be much different from those resulting from the muscle problems. If the cause of the TMJ problem is not treated, the problem can manifest into chronic problems and treatment will be more complicated.

Most common signs and symptoms are as follow:

1. Headaches in different area of head
2. Facial pain
3. Jaw tenderness
4. Ringing in the ears
5. Clicking or grinding sound when opening the mouth or chewing food
6. Problem with opening mouth
7. Missing teeth
8. Generalized neck ache/or stiffness
9. Ear pain

This information is FYI only. It is not intended to provide treatment or recommend treatment by any means or methods. Any health problems need careful diagnosis by your attending doctors.

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