• Obstructive sleep apnea/snoring
• CEREC Same Day Crowns
• Patient Education
• My Blog

TMJ

What is TMD?

TMD or TMJ, is a term used to describe a disorder associated with the muscles of the temporomandibular joint which connects the lower joint to the skull.  Symptoms can include jaw pain, headaches, facial pain, worn/eroded teeth and clicking or popping in the jaw.   Frequently, when Dr. Polan diagnoses TMJ disorder in a patient, they report at least two of the symptoms above.  Snoring and teeth grinding are also widespread among patients who suffer from TMJ disorder.  Women tend to experience more pain from TMJ disorder, but men have more significant damage to their teeth bone and gums from this disorder.

The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the skull or cranium.  It is a very complex joint, and its location is in an area of the body where the disorder contributes to migraine headaches, numbness or tingling in the arms and hands, and significant neck and shoulder pain.  In most cases, TMJ disorder is caused by a bad bite or malocclusion.  Dr. Polan has seen hundreds of these patients who suffer from this disorder and is able to diagnose and treat most of these cases with the principles of neuromuscular dentistry.  (Hyperlink here to the page on neuromuscular dentistry)

If you have any of the symptoms below, an evaluation with Dr. Polan can help to determine the best treatment options for eliminating pain and restoring your bite to its proper position.

• Jaw click or popping
• Headaches/migraines
• Facial pain]
• Numbness or tingling in arms or hands
• Sore/sensitive teeth
• Shoulder or neck pain
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Vertigo (dizziness)

What causes TMJ?

TMJ has many causes.  A minor blow to the jaw, whiplash, head or neck trauma, difficult childbirth, missing teeth, a genetic predisposition and unresolved chronic pain issues may all result in painful jaw disorders.  Disruption of smooth jaw movement eventually can lead to head, neck and jaw pain.  It can also lead to clicking or popping of the jaw upon opening one’s mouth.  Jaw locking during chewing or yawning can also occur with TMJ.  A bad bite, or malocclusion, can lead to a poor joint relationship and cause pain.  The misalignment of the jaw and skull can also lead to cracked teeth, tooth loss and even facial asymmetry.