What is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)?

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is a complex and unique joint. Because of the complexity of the TMJ, anything that changes the way it functions can cause TMJ Disorder (TMD). There are several possible causes or combination of causes for TMD. Likewise, there are several treatment approaches for relieving TMD symptoms.

 Causes:

  •  Malocclusion (“Bite”)
  •  Trauma
  •  Arthritis
  •  Grinding or clenching teeth
  •  Sleep Apnea
  •  Structural abnormalities

Symptoms:

  •  Pain and/or ringing in ears
  •  Headaches
  •  Facial pain
  •  Neck pain
  •  Sore jaw muscles
  •  Difficulty swallowing
  •  Clicking/ popping/ locking of the jaw joints (TMJ)
  •  Pain with chewing
  • Limited opening of the mouth 
  • Difficulty closing teeth 

Treatment:

Treatment for TMD varies and can involve several different phases and/or different modalities of treatment.  Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is critical because there is a high correlation between TMD and OSA.

Some treatment methods may include:

  •  Surgery
  •  Physical Therapy 
  •  Nutrition
  • Orthodontic treatment
  •  Custom Orthotics
  •  Chiropractic Therapy
  •  Trigger point injections or Prolotherapy
  •  Full mouth reconstruction with crowns