What is the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)?

The TMJ is a joint that slides and rotates just in front of your ear, consisting of a temporal bone, mandible, ligaments, muscles, disc, retrodiscal attachment tissues, synovium, articular cartilage, and a capsule. Chewing muscles connect the jaw to the skull, allowing you to move your jaw forward, sideways, and open and close. All of these movements are protected with a properly functioning TMJ assembly.

Common Symptoms of Jaw Problems

When the TMJ is not functioning properly, a condition know as Temporomandibular Disfunction (TMD) is diagnosed. Some common symptoms a person with TMD will experience are:

1. pain and soreness in your jaw joint and muscles of your face along with neck, shoulder or back pain
2. headaches, pain behind your eyes
3. noises in your joint such as clicking or popping sounds
4. difficulty opening and closing your jaw or chewing your food
5. your teeth not feeling like they fit together properly
6. difficulty opening your mouth wide
7. ringing in your ears, dizziness
8. grinding your teeth
9. awakening in the morning with soreness in your jaw or muscles of your face
10. sleep problems

What causes TMD?

Normal function for a person’s TMJ and musculature include chewing, swallowing, speech and communication. Any activity a person’s jaw does outside these normal tasks would be considered what we call parafunction. This would include clenching, grinding (night bruxism) or using your teeth for anything outside the normal function realm. These excessive habits tire the jaw muscles and lead to discomfort, such as headaches or neck pain. Additionally, parafunction can lead to worn or sensitive teeth, traumatized TMJ, muscle soreness, jaw discomfort when eating and temporal headaches. When a person exceeds the TMJ’s ability to withstand compressive forces, breakdown will occur. Through time, as a person’s TMJ is chronically overloaded, the disc that is superimposed between the mandible and the temporal bone begins to dislocate in an anterior direction. This will correlate with a popping sound as the mandible moves off and on the disc. An extremely important anatomical change occurs during this process, the disc will flatten, becoming more and more susceptible to dislocation. As the disc moves forward, the mandible moves back into an area dominated by blood vessels and nerves. Eventually the disc will permanently dislocate forward, leaving the jaw positioned within the nerve endings, pain is the result.

Migraines or TMJ?

When you are experiencing headaches and/or ringing or aching ears, along with an aching back or neck, many general physicians will diagnose it as a migraine or ear disorder. However, if the doctor gives this diagnosis without conducting any tests or prescribes medication that doesn’t relieve the pain, you should consider going to a dentist like Dr. West who understands and can treat Temporomandibular Dysfunction.

What is the Best TMJ Treatment?

The goal of treatment for a person suffering with TMD is primarily to get the patient out of TMJ pain and prevent further breakdown of the TMJ and related structures. This is accomplished with fabrication of an orthotic (a lower splint the repositions the jaw away from the neural plexus and creates room to potentially move the disc back into place). The orthotic will break the pain cycle and position the mandible such that the musculature and TMJ can work in harmony. Once a stable position is achieved and the jaw does not pop or hurt, an analysis of how the teeth come together is performed. The goal is to have the patient’s teeth come together the same way the splint had the jaw positioned, this is usually accomplished with reshaping teeth, orthodontics or gnathodontic jaw surgery. Orthotic therapy can take anywhere from 3 months to 3 years depending on the severity of joint and bone breakdown.

How TMJ Treatment Can Make A Difference!

"Approximately 18 months ago my health deteriorated with a significant loss of weight and strength along with tremendous pain throughout my entire body. I was unable to enjoy the active lifestyle that I previously had. After counless medical tests and examinations by several specialists, Dr. Gordon West was convinced that a TMJ issue was the cause of my ill health. I cannot say enough about the caring and understanding Dr. West and his staff showed me during this very difficult time. Dr. West truly understood what I was experiencing and was determined to provide me with the necessary treatment that would restore my overall health."

"With the association that Dr. West has with Dr. Dan Schield, I am able to receive the unique treatment that is getting me back to normal. Dr. Schield designed the appliance that fits on my lower teeth, which I have been using for just over a year now. The appliance reduces the stress on the jaw that chewing, grinding and clenching cause and aids in the healing process of the jaw joint. This has truly been a life-saver for me. I have regained most of my strength and was able to participate in the Buffalo Bicycle Classic in Sept., completing the 50 mile route with my husband and daughters. I am presently looking forward to returning to the snow covered slopes for the current ski season."

"I am truly thankful for Dr. West and Dr. Schield and wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for all they have done for me"

Marcia Hagedorn

If you have questions about TMJ treatment, call our Lafayette dentist office today at 303-665-5335, or send the simple form on the right, and we will be glad to contact you.

Serving Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield, Brighton, Longmont, Erie. Denver and
Boulder County Colorado with TMJ Treatment