TMJ Help Program

The Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) is located where your bottom jaw meets up with your skull. Layers of cartilage between the two sides cushion strain and keep it moving easily while muscles support its movement. When the bone, muscle, or cartilage suffers harm or damaged movement and abnormalities, this dysfunction causes pain, discomfort, and the wearing of teeth on one or both sides.

Signs Of TMJ

A cosmetic dentist sees the signs of Temporo-Mandibular joint dysfunction frequently. Patients complain about having headaches, ear pain, and discomfort without finding any relief. In many situations, the sufferer will find their ear is sensitive to wind. Their hearing quality can also decrease leaving the person with reduced hearing, fuzziness, echoing, and even balance problems.

Pain can move into the temple, jaw, neck, and even across the cheek or forehead. This pain is often a sudden, sharp pain that behaves very similar to a Charlie horse. It often accompanies ‘noisy jaw’ that sounds like clicking and popping. In many cases, the jaw will lock up and become difficult to yawn, chew, and sleep on the afflicted side of the face. In extreme cases, the cosmetic dentist may notice the jaw shifts or slides while moving the bone. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, as many as 15 percent of people in the United States suffer from pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are the jaw joints on both sides of the head, just in front of the ears. When working correctly, these ball and socket jaw joints make it possible for people to open and close their mouths to chew, talk and yawn.

When the jaw joint becomes misaligned, pain can result, leading to a condition called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). The acronmyms TMD and TMJ are used interchangeably to describe this condition.

Symptoms of TMD/TMJ
• Aches, pain or tenderness in the face, jaw, ears, neck or shoulder
• Headaches, often severe like migraines
• Clicking sounds when the jaw opens and closes that is accompanied by pain
• Limited jaw or mouth movement caused by locking of the jaw joint
• Uneven or uncomfortable bite (also called malocclusion) making it difficult to chew and causing pain
• Hearing problems or ringing in ears (tinnitus)
• Dizziness
• Tingling sensations in the hands and fingers

Many people experience occasional jaw joint pain. Occasional pain should not be cause for alarm. However, if you are experiencing ongoing, multiple symptoms of TMD, it is important that you visit a doctor, dentist or neuromuscular dentist as quickly as possible. In some cases non-surgical treatments will be sufficient to ease the pain, while in more serious cases it may be necessary for an experienced neuromuscular dentist to implement surgical treatments.

A lot of problems which were once shrouded in secrecy have become connected to TMJ disorder in recent years. As was discovered, the part which conjoins our jaws to our skulls is a sensitive area that, when pressured, will result in a variety of troublesome signs for many portions of the body.

More Information At TMJ Treatment Options

Earaches, tooth pains, headaches, unusual speech patterns, throat pains, poor eyesight, and similar symptoms can be determinants of a TMJ disorder.

Do you know the TMJ causes?

Studying them will mean that we better chances of avoiding them.

- Failing to care for your teeth can result in TMJ. Decays may lead to toothaches, and toothaches will compel our jaw to close in a different way. Eventually, this may lead to abnormal closure of the temporomandibular joint which may result to a variety of problems.

- Trauma on the lower part of the face, particularly the sides, can result in TMJ. Sudden impact can even remove the jaw from the skull. If such alarming impact is experienced, the person concerned is strongly advised to seek medical opinion. As is usually the case, the effects may not be apparent, but long time consequences may already be developing under the skin.

- Unusual speech habits may be detrimental to the right conduct of the TMJ. Hence, do not push yourself to speak the wrong way. Specific words and specific phrases are supposed to be spoken in a specific way for a reason.

- Too much biting of nails can lead to TMJ problems. Nails aren’t as soft as we’d like them tobe. Sometimes, they can provide pressure against the proper conduct of the temporomandibular joint, resulting to the birth of many possible TMJ disorders.

- Obsessive gum chewing. Chewing gums force the temporomandibular joint to work overtime, more than it should. This will weaken the area and make it more fragile to TMJ disorders.

- Bruxism, or teeth grinding can result in TMJ problems. If nails and gums aren’t considered malleable enough, then our teeth would even be more dangerous for the TMJ region.

Work-related pain can affect the quality of care given by dentists and other health care providers. Dr. Erin Ducat offers relief for health care professionals as well as their patients experiencing TMJ. She is giving a free presentation on how to relieve these types of pains on September 24, 2008. Seating is limited so call for a reservation.

Multiple opportunities for pain and discomfort directly related to how the body is positioned, while at work, present themselves on a daily basis. Dental professionals’ bodies especially are forced to be in a flexed or fetal position that causes tremendous strain on the neck, upper back and the nerves that supply the arms that may result in a condition known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). It is likely that TOS is probably more common in the dental population than carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). TOS is often misdiagnosed as CTS. (Find out more about TOS at www.ducatchiropractic.com/healtharticles.)

In addition, this type of flexed posture predisposes people to a disorder known as TMJ or TMD (Temporomandibular (Joint) Disorder), a condition with which dental professionals are well acquainted. Dr. Ducat offers dental professionals and their patients treatment to end the suffering caused by this problem and many others that are a direct result from their work postures.
“As in many other medical professions, a dental care professional must be physically able to accommodate their patients’ needs. Being in pain limits their mobility or makes their work more difficult to do. The whole body is called into service to provide the quality of care that patients have come to expect,” says Dr. Ducat E. Ducat, DC, CSCS, FIAMA.
Known by her patients as “Dr. Erin”, Dr. Ducat has worked with individuals from all walks-of-life to alleviate their pain. As a medical professional whose patient treatments often place physical demands on her own body, Dr. Ducat is uniquely qualified to understand that although awkward-to-reach areas needing attention might be painful to access, it is necessary, despite the discomfort, in order to provide meticulous care.

Dental care professionals realize that “quality of care” is one of the main reasons why patients continue to return, as well as, from where referrals originate. Certainly, patients do not consider what the care provider must put there body through to maintain that level of care but dental professionals must. What is a conscientious dental care provider to do? What if you were unable to continue providing this “level of care”? How would you be able to treat your patients and keep your practice successful and growing?

On September 24, 2008, at Mark Drug in Roselle, IL, at 6 pm, a complementary presentation designed for dental professionals, featuring Dr. Erin E. Ducat will provide the solutions you need so those questions never need arise. She will share advice on how to prevent pain and what to do if you have pain. Also included will be some easy stretches to do while at work to help avoid injury that will keep your practice running smoothly.

Dental practitioners interested in getting relief from pain or in finding ways to decrease the possibility of pain associated with their work habits are invited to reach Dr. Erin to register for this presentation or to set up an interview by calling 224-653-8094. Seating is limited; reservations required. Anyone else experiencing work-related pain is welcome to call her to find out how to feel better and do better at work.

Formerly with Fox Chiropractic Center in Geneva, IL, Dr. Ducat, has entered into private practice at 107 Third Street, Suite #2, in Bloomingdale, Illinois. A graduate of the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL, she utilizes a unique approach to pain treatment, blending state-of-the-art chiropractic techniques with ancient Chinese acupuncture practices.

Did you know that dental implants are frequently the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth? Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures, or using adjacent teeth as anchors like fixed bridges, dental implants are long-term replacements that your specialist dentist surgically places in the jawbone.

Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay. Furthermore, by age 74, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. Twenty years ago, these patients would have had no alternative but to employ a fixed bridge or removable denture to restore their ability to eat, speak clearly and smile. Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking. Of even greater concern, fixed bridges often affect adjacent healthy teeth, Recurrent decay, periodontal (gum) disease and other factors often doom fixed bridgework to early failure. For these reasons, fixed bridges and removable dentures usually need to be replaced every seven to 15 years.

Implants are the subsitutes for teeth and they are the today’s best alternative to your natural teeth. They offer you a permanent and secure solution for replacing one or more teeth. They are made of biocompatible materials. They act like your original teeth and functionally and they act like one. You can eat and chew without pain or irritation. The most important is implants can help you maintain your bone structure and support your facial tissues.They reduce or eiminate the bone atrophy, which causes shrinkage of facial cosmetic changes.The implants can prevent TMD(joint) problems. When a tooth is lost the adjacent and opposing teeth start to grow in the gap. This could result in disturbing the occlusion (bite) and causing joint problems. Also no need to grind your healthy adjacent teeth to close the gap with bridge work.

A single implant can serve to support a crown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth, and can be used with dentures to increase stability and reduce gum tissue irritation.

Implants are appropriate for just about everyone. There is no concern over your age. Good health and adequate bone structure is needed to make you candidate for implant treatment. While precautions are advisable for certain conditions, patients with such chronic diseases as high blood pressure and diabetes are usually successful candidates for dental implant treatment

You need total intraoral and radiological examination before the implant therapy. Your jaw bone level shoud be controlled three dimensionally. Implants are inserted in the jaw bone surgically with local anesthesia and osseohealing phase starts. Osseohealing means jaw bone cells attach on the implant surfaces and becomes strong and a part of your body. A period of 2-4 months is needed to let a strong base to form. During this healing time the patients can wear temproray crowns or dentures just esthetically. After the healing, new crowns or dentures are placed on the top of the base structure.

Implants have changed not only patients’ smile and their overall appearence but also even their lives!

Teachers may outlaw chewing gum in class: it sticks to desks and hair, not to mention that bubble-blowing is a big taboo.

But the sticky stuff is gaining ground as a potentially good-for-you treat.

Preliminary research suggests that regular chewing can help you remember names, make you thinner, whiten teeth, and more. Just last year, the Wrigley Company formed the Wrigley Science Institute to fund gum studies around the world.

Supporting evidence

In a 2002 study of 75 people out of Northumbria University in England, gum-chewers performed better than nonchewers on a memory test.

From a list of 15 words, chewers remembered eight or nine words immediately after hearing them and seven words 25 minutes later.

Nonchewers and people who pretended to chew remembered six or seven words immediately and just five words later.

How could that be? The simple act of chewing can get your heart pumping significantly more blood to the brain, suggests a small Japanese study.

And more blood carries noggin-nourishing oxygen. It’s one theory, anyway.

If you’re trying to lose weight, gum might help with that, too, suggests a 2006 study in the journal Appetite.

Of 60 people, those who chewed gum for 15 minutes every hour after eating lunch snacked on 36 fewer calories three hours after the meal and craved fewer sweets than people who didn’t chew gum during the study.

Much of the work on gum is still in its early stages, and for each purported benefit, different studies turn up opposite results.

The repetitive stress of chewing can exacerbate pain in people with jaw problems, such as TMJ.

“Chewing gum will never be a suitable replacement for good nutrition and exercise,” says Gayl Canfield, Ph.D., R.D., a dietitian at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Aventura, Florida.

Our verdict: Some research suggests that chewing sugarless gum can help fight cavities and bad breath. As for other touted properties and added health-boosters, it may be too early to tell. As long as your jaw muscles and pocketbook tolerate the habit, a stick or two a day is fine.

Dr. Robert J. Gatchel, professor and chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington, has received a $4.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue his clinical research on temporomandibular joint disorders, known as TMJ.

Dr. Gatchel described this common ailment as a “pain or discomfort in the jaw or even locking while eating, talking or yawning.” While early intervention helps cure it, ignoring it can lead to a worsening of the condition, he said.

About 75 percent of the U.S. population experience symptoms of TMJ in their lifetime. Between 5 and 10 percent will require professional help.

Within a period of six to 12 months, more than 5.3 million U.S. residents will seek treatment for TMJ. A conservative estimate of direct costs of treatment alone stands at $2 billion.

Although TMJ condition may be affecting thousands of people, only about a hundred of these people are aware that they are suffering from the serious condition. Sometimes, the condition may be so mild that it escapes notice. At other times, a person may already have a severe TMJ symptom but may not know it because of misdiagnosis. What can be considered a severe TMJ symptom?

The Symptoms

There are a great many TMJ symptoms and different individuals may experience some in varying degrees. A severe TMJ symptom however may not only cause considerable pain but may also result in other physical conditions. Here are some symptoms:

- A severe headache is one TMJ symptom. It is possible that this particular symptom is a referred type of pain that is the result of the pressure on the jaw joints. Some people may experience tremendous headaches but are unfortunately unable to get proper treatment. This is because a TMJ headache can sometimes be misdiagnosed as migraine or some other type of head pain.

- Another severe TMJ condition would also include facial pains, and aches near the areas of the ears, back, neck and shoulders. Sometimes, part of the face may begin to swell.

- The referred pain in the ears may later be accompanied by a ringing sound which is another severe TMJ symptom. In some cases, the ear can be so affected that a person suffers from dizziness.

- TMJ patients also suffer from worn, damaged or deformed teeth. This happens when a person instinctively tries to correct an uncomfortable bite by grinding the teeth. Frequent grinding itself can worsen a TMJ condition.

- A severe TMJ symptom to dread is the possible change in jaw direction and the shape of the face. Depending on your TMJ condition, you could suffer from jaw deviations whenever you open your mouth. You could also end up with a face that looks like it has a receding chin and a forward moving forehead.

- Another common severe TMJ symptom is jaw clicking or popping. This happens when the joints misalign due to cartilage deficiencies and then realign. In the most severe cases, it can progress to lock jaw in which one would be unable to make any kind of jaw movement.

- Some also say that it is possible to have speech defects because of TMJ conditions. This severe TMJ symptom is obviously due to the misalignment of the jaws and teeth.

The Symptom Triggers

Severe TMJ symptoms can be triggered by various factors. It is quite obvious that one could suffer from a TMJ symptom due to physical accidents or shock. A car accident for example or a sports injury could lead to a TMJ condition. There are times though when a condition can be caused by common habits made worse by stress. There are times for example when we tend to clench our jaws and grind our teeth when we are in tense situations. Repeated clenching and grinding could then lead to a severe TMJ condition. It is also quite possible that a TMJ condition could be precipitated by frequent biting on hard candy, large chunks of meat and hard pastries.

A recent study published in the current issue of Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has reported that neuro-reflexotherapy (NRT) can be successfully used to treat chronic pain associated with myofascial temporomandibular joint pain (MF/TMJP).

Occlusal splints are used for the management of temporomandibular disorders, although their mechanism of action remains controversial. This study investigated whether insertion of an occlusal splint leads to condyle-fossa distance changes, and to mandibular rotation and/or translation. By combining magnetic resonance images with jaw tracking (dynamic stereometry), we analyzed the intra-articular distances of 20 human temporomandibular joints (TMJs) before and after insertion of occlusal splints of 3 mm thickness in the first molar region. For habitual closure, protrusion, and laterotrusion in the contralateral joint, occlusal splints led to minor—yet statistically significant—increases of global TMJ space and to larger increases at defined condylar areas. Condylar end rotation and translation in habitual closure were reduced. Hence, the insertion of a 3-mm-thick occlusal splint led to a change in the topographical condyle-fossa relationship, and therefore to a new distribution of contact areas between joint surfaces.