TMJ Help Site

www.1sttmjdentist.com TMJ Symptoms. Learn about Jaw Pain, Facial Pain, TMJ Syndrome, and TMJ Symptoms. Free TMJ Dentist search engine.

A number of Dentists are now offering Neuromuscular Dentistry, which is a special area of Dentistry focusing on the nerves, muscles, and the correct positioning of the jaw. Neuromuscular dentistry will help treat TMJ disorder, which causes long lasting and frequent headaches.

TMJ syndrome occurs when the temporomandibular joint that connects the upper and lower jaw is misaligned or stressed. This interference in the structure of the teeth causes the muscles to position the joints out of their sockets and forces the upper and lower teeth to fit together, causing the pain. There are a number of other commonly experienced symptoms in suffers of TMJ, some symptoms included, headaches or migraine, clicking of the jaw, limited jaw motions, grinding or clenching of the teeth and ear pain or congestion.

Luckily with ongoing advances in Neuromuscular Dentistry, there are a number of treatments that will remove the symptoms of TMJ disorder permanently. Treatments for TMD or TMJ vary from simple interventions such as application of cold and hot packs on the affected area, trigger point therapy, diet modification, posture correction and relaxation of the temporomandibular joints. More complex treatments such as physical therapy and wearing of TMJ splint or surgery may be used. After a careful evaluation of the condition of the patient’s particular situation, an appropriate treatment plan will be developed to relief the pain and discomfort.

You do not have to endure the pain a dentist will correct the positioning of your jaw and also amend bite patterns, which will ease the pressure on the jaw muscles and nerves caused by inflamed TMJ. If you want to eliminate those unbearable tension headaches or more server migraines caused by TMJ dysfunction, it is worth talking to your dentist about a treatment plan for you.

A number of Dentists are now offering Neuromuscular Dentistry, which is a special branch of Dentistry focusing on the nerves, muscles, and the correct positioning of the jaw. Neuromuscular dentistry will help treat TMJ disorder, which causes long lasting and frequent headaches. TMJ syndrome occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects the upper and lower jaw is misaligned or stressed. This interference in the structure of the teeth causes the muscles to position the joints out of their sockets and forces the upper and lower teeth to fit together, causing the pain. Other common causes of TMJ are rheumatoid arthritis, airway obstruction, injuries, including whiplash and dislocation or displacement of the disk that is situated in between the socket and the jawbone.

TMJ disorder is a fairly new area of Neuromuscular Dentistry, though with ongoing advances in Neuromuscular Dentistry, there are a number of treatments for headaches caused by TMJ syndrome that will remove the symptoms permanently. Common symptoms of tmj include, headaches or migraine, clicking of the jaw, limited jaw motions, grinding or clenching of the teeth and ear pain or congestion. Treatment of TMJ vary from simple interventions such as application of cold and hot packs on the affected area, trigger point therapy, diet modification, posture correction and relaxation of the temporomandibular joints.

Treatments for TMD More complex treatments such as physical therapy and wearing of TMJ splint or surgery may be required.

You dentist will perform a thorough evaluation of your particular situation and then prescribe an appropriate treatment to relief the symptoms. Every person responds differently to TMJ treatments, however the vast majority will experience an improvement in their TMJ symptoms. If you want to eliminate those unbearable tension headaches or more server migraines caused by TMJ pain, then it is worth talking to your dentist about a treatment plan for you. If you require a more advanced dental treatments plan, it is best to contact your local dentist.

www.1sttmjdentist.com TMJ. Learn about TMJ, TMJ Syndrome, TMJ Disorder, TMJ Symptoms, Temporomandibular Joint, and Facial Pain.

Headache and TMJ syndrome may go together if you have chronic recurring headaches. While wildly over diagnosed in the 1970’s recently newer imaging techniques, such as MRI’s, have allowed for a better look at this facial joint that causes so much pain.
TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome as the disorder is commonly called is poorly understood at the present time in terms of how it is caused. While many patients have bruxism or grinding of the teeth at night, others may have had trauma, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Many times the cause is unknown. For those of you with migraine, the constant clenching of the jaw causes muscle spasms in the temples. This then leads to a migraine.
The symptoms of TMJ may be any or all of the following: pain or tenderness in jaw and/or around the ear, difficulty chewing, a clicking sound when jaw is opened, spasms causing the jaw to “lock” when open or closing, uncomfortable or uneven bite, and finally, headache!
Testing for TMJ
Diagnosing TMJ involves a good history of how you sleep, grinding habits during the day and general tension. An exam of the jaw should involve palpation of the joint both inside and outside of the mouth. Imaging of your jaw may be needed to find out how much damage is in the joint. X-rays, a CT of the jaw or even an MRI would assist the doctor.
Once diagnosed you should be referred to a dentist who specializes in TMJ syndrome.
Treatment of TMJ
Treatment of TMJ may greatly reduce your headaches. But like anything else, a multi-factorial approach to the problem will yield the best results for you. These are the most common treatments for TMJ sufferers who also have migraine.
Overuse of jaw muscles. This is mostly a lifestyle change. You must be willing to recognize when you are grinding your teeth during the day and learn to relax the jaw. Also, try not to eat foods that are difficult to chew until you heal a bit more.
Appliances .Depending on your particular situation, the dentist may make a bite plate or splint to help align your teeth at night. A night guard appliance could also be used to help prevent grinding.
Medications. Various medications may ease your pain and thereby reduce your headaches. A short course of steroids will reduce inflammation, or if the condition is not severe an anti-inflammatory could be used. Spasming of jaw muscles could contribute to the problem, and the ideal medication for this is Elavil.
Dental Repairs. Your dentist may recommend dental work that may not make much sense to you at first. However, correcting bite, repairing teeth and filing down tooth edges that aren’t meeting correctly will all serve to decrease TMJ.
Surgery. This is a final option and is reserved for cases where the above options have failed. In this case the joint is so badly damaged that joint reconstruction or replacement may be recommended. And again..your headache and TMJ may be reduced!
If in doubt, see your dentist to begin with and ask about testing for TMJ. Discuss this with your headache specialist also as they are very familiar with the condition. If you do not see a headache specialist, your primary care physician should be able to help.

Headache and TMJ syndrome may go together if you have chronic recurring headaches. While wildly over diagnosed in the 1970’s recently newer imaging techniques, such as MRI’s, have allowed for a better look at this facial joint that causes so much pain.
TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome as the disorder is commonly called is poorly understood at the present time in terms of how it is caused. While many patients have bruxism or grinding of the teeth at night, others may have had trauma, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Many times the cause is unknown. For those of you with migraine, the constant clenching of the jaw causes muscle spasms in the temples. This then leads to a migraine.
The symptoms of TMJ may be any or all of the following: pain or tenderness in jaw and/or around the ear, difficulty chewing, a clicking sound when jaw is opened, spasms causing the jaw to “lock” when open or closing, uncomfortable or uneven bite, and finally, headache!
Testing for TMJ
Diagnosing TMJ involves a good history of how you sleep, grinding habits during the day and general tension. An exam of the jaw should involve palpation of the joint both inside and outside of the mouth. Imaging of your jaw may be needed to find out how much damage is in the joint. X-rays, a CT of the jaw or even an MRI would assist the doctor.
Once diagnosed you should be referred to a dentist who specializes in TMJ syndrome.
Treatment of TMJ
Treatment of TMJ may greatly reduce your headaches. But like anything else, a multi-factorial approach to the problem will yield the best results for you. These are the most common treatments for TMJ sufferers who also have migraine.
Overuse of jaw muscles. This is mostly a lifestyle change. You must be willing to recognize when you are grinding your teeth during the day and learn to relax the jaw. Also, try not to eat foods that are difficult to chew until you heal a bit more.
Appliances .Depending on your particular situation, the dentist may make a bite plate or splint to help align your teeth at night. A night guard appliance could also be used to help prevent grinding.
Medications. Various medications may ease your pain and thereby reduce your headaches. A short course of steroids will reduce inflammation, or if the condition is not severe an anti-inflammatory could be used. Spasming of jaw muscles could contribute to the problem, and the ideal medication for this is Elavil.
Dental Repairs. Your dentist may recommend dental work that may not make much sense to you at first. However, correcting bite, repairing teeth and filing down tooth edges that aren’t meeting correctly will all serve to decrease TMJ.
Surgery. This is a final option and is reserved for cases where the above options have failed. In this case the joint is so badly damaged that joint reconstruction or replacement may be recommended. And again..your headache and TMJ may be reduced!
If in doubt, see your dentist to begin with and ask about testing for TMJ. Discuss this with your headache specialist also as they are very familiar with the condition. If you do not see a headache specialist, your primary care physician should be able to help.