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TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorder — a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD — can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
Symptoms of tmj disorder can range from jaw pain, head and neck aches, tmj popping, grating or clicking. At Eternal Smiles we use treatments that can range from night guards to muscle relaxers.
Dr Singh has been trained to analyse the problem in Florida, America. A thorough joint examination reveals the problem.
Causes
The temporomandibular joint combines a hinge action with sliding motions. The parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk, which normally keeps the movement smooth.
Painful TMJ disorders can occur if:
- The disk erodes or moves out of its proper alignment
- The joint’s cartilage is damaged by arthritis
- The joint is damaged by a blow or other impact
Risk factors
Factors that may increase the risk of developing TMJ disorders include:
- Various types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Jaw injury
- Long-term (chronic) grinding or clenching of teeth
- Certain connective tissue diseases that cause problems that may affect the temporomandibular joint
Diagnosis
Dr Singh will discuss your symptoms and examine your jaw. He will probably:
- Listen to and feel your jaw when you open and close your mouth
- Observe the range of motion in your jaw
- Press on areas around your jaw to identify sites of pain or discomfort
If Dr Singh suspects a problem, you may need:
- Dental X-rays to examine your teeth and jaw
Or Refer to the hospital for a
- CT scan to provide detailed images of the bones involved in the joint
- MRI to reveal problems with the joint’s disk or surrounding soft tissue
TMJ arthroscopy is sometimes used in the diagnosis of a TMJ disorder. During TMJ arthroscopy, your doctor inserts a small thin tube (cannula) into the joint space, and a small camera (arthroscope) is then inserted to view the area and to help determine a diagnosis.
Ann had problems with a dentist not understanding her bite. After placing many crowns and fillings he did not understand her bite was not in the proper place. Then after 3 visits with Dr Singh she recovered and now able to enjoy her foods.
“I had headaches and sore shoulders for years. The night guard has helped wonders and for the first time in years. I no longer wake up with a headache or discomfort in my front teeth. I am really impressed with the time and attention Dr Singh took to make it comfortable and the after care given to ensure it remains correct and comfortable.” Sally Holgate
Jaw joint conditon
Dr Singh has extensive training in treating problems associated with the jaw joint and bite, or what we call ‘Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders’. These come in many forms and the symptoms can include:
- Painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth.
- Pain in the chewing muscles or jaw joint, especially first thing in the morning or in the evening after a stressful day.
- Soreness in the jaw.
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth or locking of the jaw.
- Jaw muscle stiffness.
- Headaches or radiating pain in the face, shoulders and neck.
- Ringing in the ears.
- A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.
- Can be mistaken for chronic toothache.
What causes it?
These problems have many contributing factors such as stress and grinding of teeth. Trauma to the jaw plays a role in some TMJ disorders. But for most jaw joint and muscle problems, scientists don’t know the cause. For many people, symptoms seem to start without an obvious reason. Research disputes the popular belief that a bad bite can trigger TMJ disorders. Because the condition is more common in women than in men, scientists are now exploring a possible link between female hormones and TMJ disorders.
How is it treated?
Dr Singh is fully trained to diagnose these problems and treat them –He uses ‘TMJ therapy’ and bite adjustment. The therapy involves wearing a specialised (Hard Night guard) stabilisation splint. This is carefully fabricated and adjusted to relax the chewing muscles and place the jaw joint in a comfortable position to allow it to heal properly.
Once the pain has been resolved over a period of 3-6 months, certain restorative treatment may be required to correct the bite.
“My TMJ joints were sore and the side of my face were painful the last few months. Dr Singh advised that I wear a night guard to resolve my TMJ bite problem. It prevented me from wearing down due to my grinding and help my jaw joints recover. The treatment and care was great. Thank you for helping sore jaw better.”
Gary Dickenson
In summary, careful planning and analysis will allow the treatment to be designed around your individual needs.
The facial muscles and jaw joints are all part of a system that is controlled by the brain. Because Dr Singh has a detailed understanding of this system, he can detect specific reasons that cause harmful bite pattern and head and neck pain.
When muscles and joints do not work properly, the muscles will often tire. The tiredness can become part of a cycle that results in tissue damage, pain, muscle tenderness and spasm.
Although accidents involving injuries to the jaw, head, or neck, or diseases such as arthritis may result in some bite problems, Using detailed bite evaluation we can diagnose any discrepancies with your bite. We also use it to get the accuracy of newly fitted restorations 100% correct to make your restorations last longer.
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