TREATMENT INFO

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)


TMJ Dysfunction 

 
Many people suffer from dizziness, earaches, face, head, neck, shoulder and back pain,
 
without knowing the cause of their pain. Previously, many patients seeking medical cures for
 
these types of problems were told it was "all in their mind" they would go from specialist to
 
specialist seeking a cure. Today, however, it is known that the condition termed TMJ or TMD
 
(temporomandibular joint) syndrome and accounts for a large number of these previously
 
 uncured and painful ailments. Correcting the problem rather then the symptom is at the heart
 
 of TMJ treatment. With new knowledge and technology, dentist and orthodontist are able to
 
 diagnose and treat TMJ problems which previously have been overlooked. Additionally, the
 
medical profession is becoming more aware of dentistry's involvement and physicians are
 
referring patients to dentists knowledgeable in TMJ treatment.


Malocclusion and the TMJ

 
Your jaw joint, which holds your lower jaw in place, is suspended beneath your skull by an
 
intricate system of muscles and tendons. The jaw joints, also known as the  
 
temporomandibular joints (TMJ), are some of the most complex in the body. The jaw joint,
 
the surrounding muscles and the fit of your teeth are interrelated, each affecting the other as you
 
make everyday jaw movements such as speaking and chewing. The way your teeth fit
 
together is called occlusion. When your teeth are not in proper relationship to each other and
 
your jaw joints, the jaw automatically shifts to a new position in an attempt to compensate for
 
the misalignment of your teeth, a condition known as malocclusion.