TMJ Temperomandibular Joint Disfunction or Temporomandibular disorders, TMD, TMJ syndrome

  Do You Have TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to the side of your head. When it works well, it enables you to talk, chew and yawn. For people with TMJ dysfunction, problems with the joint and muscles around it may cause:

• Pain that travels through the face, jaw or neck
• Stiff jaw muscles
• Limited movement or locking of the jaw
• Painful clicking or popping in the jaw
• A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together

If you think you may have TMJ you  need to go to your dentist who will be able to advise you or set up an appointment for you to get a second opinion.

 Treatment for TMJ

There is no real cure for TMJ. Because the cause is unknown and the symptoms so variable there is no definitive treatment for TMJ. Until there is science based evidence to help health care providers make sound treatment decisions, NIDCR suggests the following:

Try simple self-care practices such as eating soft foods, using ice packs and avoiding extreme jaw movements, like wide yawning and gum chewing. Short-term use of over-the-counter or prescription pain medicines may also provide relief.

Avoid treatments that cause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. Such treatments include crown and bridge work to balance the bite, orthodontics to change the bite, grinding down teeth to bring the bite into balance (occlusal adjustment), and repositioning splints, which permanently change the bite.

Avoid, where possible, surgical treatment for TMJ. There have been no long-term studies to test the safety and effectiveness of these procedures. Before considering any surgery on the jaw joint, it's important to get opinions from other doctors and to fully understand the risks.

TMJ Finding the Right Care

Because there is no certified specialty for TMJ disorders in either dentistry or medicine, finding the right care can be difficult. Look for a health care provider who understands musculoskeletal disorders (affecting muscle, bone and joints) and who is trained in treating pain conditions. Pain clinics in hospitals and universities are often a good source of advice.

TMJ Requires Treatment By A Specialist Dentist

Sometimes, as Freud once said a good cigar is just a smoke. A headache, on the other hand, occasionally can be a sign of something much more serious than just a headache.

This is particularly true if it is accompanied by facial pain, neck and shoulder pain, tinnitus or ringing in the ears and unexplained loose teeth. These symptoms, along with jaw pain, limited jaw movement or locking jaw, numbness in the fingers and arms, worn or cracked teeth and clicking or popping in the jaw joints can be signs that a person has the condition called temporomandibular joint syndrome or TMJ. The condition occurs when the teeth, facial muscles and temporomandibular joints are out of alignment.

Fortunately, neuromuscular dentistry can help alleviate symptoms such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, jaw pain, clicking or popping in the jaw and tinnitus – another name for ringing in the ears.

A neuromuscular dentist may be able to help if you are suffering from any of the above symptoms or a number of other symptoms. In a number of cases, these symptoms can actually be attributed to TMJ, also referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or MPD (myofascial pain disorder).

The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) is considered by many to be the world leader in training neuromuscular dentists. Neuromuscular dentists trained there are specially trained to recognize signs of TMJ, a disorder that is commonly passed by or misdiagnosed, and to provide the most appropriate care for the individual patient.

Located in Las Vegas, NV, the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies was founded in 1995. To learn more about the Institute and TMJ, visit the Web site at www.leadingdentists.com

Resources TMJ

	TMJ Taking Control by Robert O. Uppgaard D..A Customer Review "I have never written a review in my life, but I had to after reading this book. I have suffered from TMj for over 10 years and have gone to 2 specialists, wore mouth guards, etc. These treatments were helpful during the time, but it required me going back regularly, wearing uncomfortable night guards, and of course medical expenses. Recently my TMJ relapsed after a health problem and I suffered jaw aches, molars were hurting, and throat was also hurting (in addition to painful cracking sounds and difficulty opening my mouth). As a last resort before going to see yet another specialist, I bought this book and it has been a great relief to my pains. Just after a few days of doing the exercises and following lifestyle tips, my pain was significantly reduced that I have not gone to a specialist yet. I highly recommend this book. It's amazing what a few changes and jaw exercises daily can do to reduce the pain. Thank you so much for this book!"
	Eliminate TMJ and Teeth Grinding (Audio CD) by Scott Sulak BCH CHT Customer Review I ordered this on a bit of a lark when I was ordering "Taking Control of TMJ" by Robert O. Uppgaard. (I very highly recommend that book as well.) I was having a bad TMJ flare-up after dental work, and was buying anything I thought might help. As it turned out, there were three things that helped me the most: this CD, the exercises in the aforementioned book, and cutting waaaay back on caffeine. (Coffee seems to be much more problematic than tea.) This CD had an immediate effect. After the first use, the next morning I woke up with significantly less pain in my jaw. (That had been the worst time of day for me.) I was really relieved, as I'd been in pain for weeks! There are many different causes that can contribute to TMJ. I don't have bite or joint problems, but I do grind and carry tension in my jaw habitually, so my problems are mostly muscular. If this is your situation, I would definitely recommend you give this CD a try. I would add the caveat that this is not going to be a replacement for dental work or surgery, IF you need those things. On the other hand, this has been a lot more effective than the very expensive night guards I have tried in the past, which didn't stop me from grinding at all. It's not magic - It didn't eliminate jaw tension entirely. But I didn't expect that. It really has helped me a lot, and I continue to use it every night.