Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)
Craniofacial pain (TMJ/TMD) is an emerging specialty that bridges the gap between medicine and dentistry. Patients we see usually aren’t sure who they should contact to resolve their symptoms, listed below. Often times they have been to various providers prior calling us in search of a solution. What can be confusing is that migraines, headaches, ear pain, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and eye pain can be coming from different parts of the head and neck, making it challenging to figure out what doctor is the best to see.
What are the symptoms of TMD? They include,
- Headaches (daily, recurrent, nightly)
- Migraines
- Ear pain, fullness, congestion, whooshing
- Jaw pain, clicking, popping, crunching, locking, noises
- Dizziness
- Teeth clenching, grinding, gnashing
- Face pain, numbness, tingling, shocking
- Eye pain
- Neck pain
- Base of skull of pain
- Pain when chewing
- Throat pain
- Shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Difficulty opening mouth
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Muscle twitching
- Bite feels off or different than before
- Numbness in hands or arms
- Burning mouth
TMD Diagnosis
The effectiveness of a treatment is dependent upon a proper diagnosis, a diagnosis that uncovers the origin of your problem. A proper diagnosis will tell you what your primary problem is and where it came from. This information is a breath of fresh air. Often times just knowing “the why” puts patients at ease and gives them confidence that a diagnosis and a solution have been identified.
We take a great deal of time reviewing your medical history in detail and completing a very comprehensive head and neck evaluation utilizing cutting-edge technology. Proper diagnosis and emphasis on origin, rather than symptoms alone, is key to successful, long-term treatment results. After proper diagnosis, a specific non-surgical, treatment plan for rehabilitation is developed for the unique needs of each individual patient.
Common Conditions Treated:
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Migraines
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction/disease
- Capsulitis of the temporomandibular joint
- Jaw locking or dislocation of jaw
- Tension-type headaches
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
TMD Treatment
Our non-surgical treatment solutions focus on optimal healing and restoring function in the absence of pain. We utilize a wide range of treatment modalities depending on your individual diagnosis. These treatments may include:
- Non-invasive solutions for pain management and joint dysfunction
- Decompression appliance therapy (custom orthopedic oral orthotics)
- Nutritional, anti-inflammatory diet recommendations and resources
- Physical medicine modalities (cold laser therapy)
- Multi-discipline referral coordination