TMJ treatment

Understanding TMJ

TMJ joints serve as hinges between the lower jaw and the skull, allowing free movement for chewing, speech, etc.

Problems with the TMD can arise from personal injury accidents.

Without treatment, these problems often lead to deterioration of the joint tissues, chronic pain, and soreness in the muscles that make the joints work.

Temporomandibular Joint problems (TMJ) are diversely classified as intracapsular and extracapsular conditions.

Intracapsular involves the joint structures like the mandibular condyle, the articular disc and the glenoid fossa. Extracapsular involves the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding and connecting to the TM joints and mandible itself

Intracapsular: These disorders are featured by structural alterations of the temporomandibular joint, which interfere with the form and function and also produce pain. They are made up of four groups of disorders.

Injuries: These occur when trauma is induced to the jaw directly or indirectly.

Internal derangements: These occur when the physiologic relationship of the condyle, disc, and fossa have been lost. Internal problems constitute the vast majority of this group.

In a typical derangement, the disc assumes a position forward of the condyle due to a problem with the distal attachment. When this is present, a click is heard during opening movements and usually a softer click is heard in the closing of the mandible. If this is left untreated, it may result in a closed lock and alterations occur. With this comes the onset of severe pain, making the likelihood of surgical interventions more probable.

Extracapsular: These are problems associated with an abnormal bite due to various traumas that alters the relationship of how the teeth fit together.

Our treatment for these problems is based on an accurate diagnosis using state-of-the-art, diagnostic equipment. The treatment is non-invasive and typically involves neuromuscular positioning.

Step I

Relieve muscle spasm and pain

The best way to do this is by using a technology called ULF-TENS. ULF-TENS stands for Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation.

ULF-TENS is a way to relax muscles with a gentle massage of the muscles. The rhythmic pulsing relaxes the muscles by increasing blood flow and pumping out waste products. ULF-TENS also helps with pain relief by stimulating the body’s production of endorphins, the body’s natural anesthetic.

Transcutaneous Neural Electrical Stimulation (TENS), a modality used to relax the masticatory muscles prior to diagnosis and treatment. TENS is the procedure of applying a controlled electrical pulse to the nervous system by passing electricity through the skin via electrodes placed on the skin. High Frequency TENS is commonly called pain blocker TENS or dorsal column stimulator. Low frequency TENS has also been called acupuncture-like TENS, ultra-low frequency TENS and muscle stimulator TENS.

Step II

Home-care

Habit redaction, soft diet, exercises (stretch), rest, and cognitive-behavioral therapy-change in daily behaviors-avoid caffeine, work sensibly.

Physical Therapy at Home

Stretch Tx (spray and stretch): jaw muscle-tong up, no translation, wide opening neck muscle- chin to chest; ear to shoulder; “N” position (postural awareness-most relaxed jaw position/teeth apart & lips not touching), Hydrotherapy (Spa Therapy,

Thermal Therapy:

Heat, ice/cold packs.

Step III:

Splint therapy

In a typical derangement, the disc assumes a position in front of the condyle due to a problem with the distal attachment. When this is present, a click is heard during opening movements, and usually a softer click is heard in the closing of the mandible. If this is left untreated, it may result in a closed lock and the onset of degenerative osteoarthritis.

More about us at: www.dentalinjurycenter.com