TMJ/TMD Treatment
Could you be suffering from TMD/TMJ?
TMJ, although it has become almost a household word, is a non-specific, catch-all term for a variety of pain/dysfunction conditions of the head and neck.
What is TMJ or TMD?
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Worn, chipping or cracked teeth
- Cracking or chipping dental restorations
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Jaw pain
- Ear congestion
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking or popping in the joints
- Clenching or bruxism
- Limited opening of the mouth
- Loose teeth
The Diagnosis
Dr. Cameron will consider all of the information gathered by taking your history and doing a physical examination of your teeth, head and neck. Data from these tests will indicate whether your bite is a major contributing factor to your problem and will help rule in or rule out your bite as the cause of, or major component of, your condition. If these tests show that your habitual bite is a probable cause of your condition or pain, Dr. Cameron will then identify a jaw position while the jaw muscles are in a relaxed state. This jaw position and the corresponding new bite is called neuromuscular occlusion.
Click on the link below to download the form prior to your visit.
Treatment
An orthotic is a custom made appliance fabricated of plastic that can be worn over the teeth to maintain the neuromuscularly derived bite position. At this point, nothing is done to permanently alter your bite. You typically wear this plastic appliance for a prescribed period of time to verify that this new jaw position solves or reduces the problem. If it does, it has proven that the imperfect bite was the cause of the problem and you may elect to go on and have your natural teeth treated to permanently maintain that new bite position. We also offer Trigger point injections. They are relatively comfortable and are performed in-office.
Can any dentist treat TMJ?” TMJ/TMD requires both specialized training and equipment to diagnose and treat. Dr. Cameron’s TMJ clinic focuses on Conservative, non-surgical procedures, with the goal to alleviate pain and restore proper form and function to the jaw.
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