TMJ Advance Treatments
TMJ is an acronym for the temporomandibular joint. There is one joint on each side of the face at the mouth and jaw connection. Dislodging the alignment of the joint through grinding teeth, clenching the teeth or dislocation due to an accident or poor posture can cause migraine headaches, joint pain on one or both sides and severe neck pain. Correcting the problem is an art and science that must be highly individualized by a dentist or facial surgeon.
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Surgery
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Bite splints, dentistry to align teeth and even mechanical stretching devices to exercise the jaw have been used to correct ongoing TMJ problems. If nothing works, and the patient continues to experience extreme pain in the teeth, ears or neck, surgery might be in order. This should be performed by a maxillofacial surgeon only. This delicate surgery involves breaking the jaw on one or both sides and delicately moving the structure into a new permanent position. The mouth must then be wired in a semi-closed position for months.
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Braces
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While it's involved and expensive, patients may elect to correct the position of their teeth versus having jaw surgery, and your insurance may pay for the braces. Repositioning teeth can decrease pressure at the sides of the face where the TMJ joint is located. Individuals with a receding chin are especially prone to TMJ. Surgery can bring the chin forward by breaking the jaw on both sides and repositioning the face, but braces can also realign how the teeth meet and take pressure off the jaw joints.
Stretching the Jaw Muscles
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Some dentists recommend an apparatus that will exercise and stretch muscles in the face and jaw, believing this will take pressure off the muscles and relieve pain. Some patients faithfully use this type of equipment and find relief. The theory is that stress and emotional issues cause the patient to grind his teeth and aggravate the TMJ area.
Posture
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A car wreck, for example, can reposition the spine and neck permanently, and some medical practitioners ask patients to wear a posture device to hold the neck and head straighter. Over time, this does help some individuals with TMJ pain. The bulkiness of the apparatus and the need to wear it only at home discourages many individuals from utilizing it for posture. But patients with weeks or months of migraines or pain in the inner ear often gain immeasurable relief from wearing a posture apparatus to correct TMJ.
Anatomy is the First Concern
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No doctor or dentist can properly offer advance TMJ treatment when conservative treatments haven't worked without a thorough X-ray and/or CT scan. Patients who've tried eating only soft foods, sleeping in a different position or taking mild pain medications to no avail should ask for a thorough assessment of the anatomy from a reputable practitioner. How the facial bones are aligned, plus concerns of bone spurs in the neck or spine, health of the jawbone and delicate ear problems, must all be evaluated. Surgery, with recovery time of about eight months, may be the only option for permanent relief.
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