Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
You are not alone! Did you know that more than 15 percent of American adults suffer fromchronic facial pain; such as jaw pain, jaw popping, locked jaw, difficulty chewing, headaches orearaches? LouAnn Van Liew in Forked River can help you with the most appropriate and conservativetreatments for your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today at 609-242-3567 or complete the form and we willcontact you shortly.
What is TMD/TMJ?
Problems with your jaw, jaw pain and the muscles in your face that control it are known astemporomandibular disorders (TMD). Referring to the specific temporomandibular joint (TMJ),is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the bone of the skull. This joint is locatedimmediately in front of the ear on each side of the head. The muscles attached to the jaw allowthe jaw an incredible amount of movement, such as side to side and up and down.
This flexibilityallows us to chew, talk, and yawn. Each TMJ has a disc between the ball and socket. The disccushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and rotate or glide. Any problem thatprevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working properly mayresult in a painful TMJ disorder.
About Us
When you visit All About Smiles Dentistry, your health is our top priority. We are a Forked River dental practice providing general dentistry, family dentistry and cosmetic solutions for patients seeking exceptional care.
Dr. LouAnn Van Liew, Dr.Deborah Hoover and our smile team are committed to the highest level of continued education and training to provide the latest dental advancements and technology for our patients.
Treatment Options
What treatment options do I have?
Keep in mind that for most people, discomfort from TMD/TMJ will eventually go away whethertreated or not and our office encourages simple self-care non-invasive practices. If moretreatment is needed, it should be conservative and reversible. LouAnn Van Liew avoids, if at allpossible, treatments that cause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. If irreversible treatments arerecommended, we encourage you to gather all the information you need to make an informedbest decision and even to get a second opinion. Pain clinics in hospitals and universities are agood source of advice and second opinions for temporomandibular disorders.
Non-Invasive treatment options include:
- Using a dental articulator, LouAnn Van Liew will analyze your bite on an instrument thatsimulates the way your jaw works
- Bite correction with T-Scan computer-bite sensors which digitally map your bite so weknow precisely how your teeth bite, from the high spots to the low spots
- Bite Splint Therapy-If we determine that there is a cause/effect relationship between theincorrect bite of the teeth and TMJ/muscle symptoms, a bite splint could berecommended. A hard acrylic therapeutic device is fabricated to fit snugly over eitheryour upper or lower teeth creating an artificial biting surface that alleviates undue stressand force, providing for better joint and muscle function and comfort. As you wear thesplint, your bite on it will change, requiring additional adjustments to the splint. The goalis to alleviate the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders, as well as stabilize your bite onthe splint.
- Inflamyar – a compound of various natural plant based products for Treatment ofInflammation, Arthritis, Muscle Pain, Bursitis, Sprains, Bruises and Sports Injuries. Weuse this with low level laser therapy to help with sore temporomandibular joints andmuscles
- Eating soft foods
- Try to avoid extreme jaw movements, like yawning and gum chewing
- Avoid biting your nails
- Applying warm compresses to the area of pain
- Muscle stretching and relaxation exercises to perform at home
- If you have the habit of teeth grinding, LouAnn Van Liew can fit you with a therapeutic splintthat fits over your upper and lower teeth like a mouth sports guard. The splint is designedto ease muscle tension by reducing clenching or teeth grinding at night
More invasive treatment options include:
- A bite adjustment to correctly engineer your bite. It is a precise procedure that is alwaysdone first on models of your mouth. And before that procedure is done, a bite splint maybe prescribed to relax the muscles and allow the joints to stabilize first.
- Cortisone shots can help relieve inflammation and pain
- Fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth
- Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended
- Jaw joint replacement surgery to replace the jaw joint with an artificial implant
What are the chronic symptoms of TMD/TMJ?
- Facial pain or tenderness, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the earwhen you chew, speak, or yawn
- Limited ability to open the mouth wide
- Jaw popping
- Jaws that get “stuck” or “locked” in the open or closed mouth position
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the joint when the mouth is opened or closed
- Tired feeling in the face or neck
- Difficulty chewing
- Sudden uncomfortable feeling when biting
- Swelling on the side of the face
- Toothaches
- Consistent headaches or neck aches
- Dizziness
- Earaches
- Hearing problems
- Upper shoulder pain
- Ringing in the ears
- More women experience TMD/TMJ pain than men and is most often seen in peoplebetween 20 to 40 years of age.
What are potential causes of TMD/TMJ?
- Trauma or injury such as whiplash
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding
- Clenching
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Dislocation
- Tooth and jaw alignment
How is TMD/TMJ diagnosed?
At present, there is no widely accepted, standard test to correctly identify TMD/TMJ.Because the exact causes and symptoms are not clear, diagnosing temporomandibular disorderscan be confusing especially because other dental conditions, such as a toothache or sinusproblems, can cause similar symptoms.
In about 90 percent of the cases, says the Delta DentalPlans Association, your description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examinationof face and jaw by LouAnn Van Liew provides useful information for diagnosing temporomandibulardisorders. During an examination, we perform orthopedic types of tests on the TMJ such aspalpation (pressing various areas), auscultation (listening while the jaw moves), range of motiontests, and loading or joint compression tests.
These allow us to assess the current status of jointform and function. If you have joint pain, we will determine exactly which structure(s) areinvolved in order to make a diagnosis. We will also palpate the muscles of the head and neckarea to determine if they may be a source of pain.LouAnn Van Liew in Forked River may also take x-rays and make a cast of your teeth to see how yourbite fits together, or may request specialized x-rays of the TM joints.
Complimentary Consultation
After a personal consultation and exam, LouAnn Van Liew can suggest the most appropriate therapybased on the suspected cause of your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today 609-242-3567 to schedule anappointment in Forked River or complete the form for a complimentary consultation at All About Smiles Dentistry
Call 609-242-3567 NOW to schedule your Complimentary Consultation or fill in the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Dr VanLiew and support staff are amazing! The hour commute is worth my experience there! Thank you for your top notch state of the art care! Best dentist stops here! - Shannon L.
Over the past several years, Dr. Van Liew and her staff have provided my family and me with superb dental services. She is compassionate and knowledgeable. Dr. Van Liew keeps up with the latest technology and equipment. The staff is well trained and they share her values of excellent dental care and concern for the patients. All procedures and processes are explained in detail so that it is easily understandable. From the moment you walk into the office, you feel like family. - Priscilla P.
Dr. Van Liew came highly recommended from a friend, as well as an oral surgeon from the area. I had an emergency with painful tooth that needed immediate attention. Dr. Van Liew's staff got me an unheard of same day appointment. What a relief. Dr. Van Liew is top notch and a credit to her profession. I will undoubtedly recommend her to friends and family. - Wes Y.