About TMJ & Craniofacial Pain

Making sure that the jaw joint (the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ) is in correct alignment and position can relieve the symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). Our neuromuscular dentists who are trained in advanced treatment of TMD, craniofacial pain (CFP), and neuromuscular dentistry incorporates their skill and knowledge into every general dental procedure they perform as well as treats patients who are suffering from TMJ or CFP symptoms.

From the time we can stand, or even sit, we often fall and impact our jaw and neck.  Even slight trauma to an infant or child usually leads to changes in the growth of the lower jaw.  These changes affect the bite and lead to crowded/crooked teeth, overbites and a variety of unhealthy facial and airway changes that can have tremendously negative effects on the long-term health and quality of life of our patients.

TMJ is a serious disorder that harmfully affects millions of people in the United States.  TMJ causes painful symptoms that can range from ringing in the ears to arm, neck, or back pain to migraines and headaches.  TMJ dysfunction occurs when the temporomandibular joint or muscles have had development issues, trauma, and/or changes to the bite or skeletal structures.  In some cases, orthodontics or oral surgery can result in TMJ-related pain if the joint and muscle positions are not taken into consideration when planning and performing the treatment.

The temporomandibular joint is the joint where the lower jaw meets the skull. This joint is one of the most delicate and intricate joints in the body, and many different muscles, ligaments, nerves and tendons surround and support it. When you have TMJ dysfunction or derangement, these structures experience excess pressure which produces painful symptoms and results in continued deteriorating changes to the joint, face, bones, teeth and bite.

The most common cause of TMJ is malocclusion. Malocclusion is a term used to describe a person's bite when their teeth don't come together properly. When the bite is misaligned, the muscles around the temporomandibular joint strain, ache, and potentially, spasm even while the jaw is at rest.  We are able to show and measure this abnormal muscle activity with our K7 Electromyography (EMG) technology.

Since the temporomandibular joint is so intricate, things as simple as a tooth filling can throw it out of alignment if the filling causes your bite to be just a small amount “off.”  We humans can feel when we have something as small and thin as a human hair (approximately 40 microns) between our teeth.  We find it annoying and uncomfortable.

This being the case, when our bite changes, the muscles and jaw work non-stop in an effort to find a new comfortable bite…sometimes to no avail if the damage to the teeth, jaw joint or its cartilaginous disc have already occurred.  Once at this point, protective measures must be taken to ensure that further damage is slowed or stopped.  This could be something as simple as a bite guard worn only at night, or as technical and methodical as a precisely custom-made orthotic dental appliance (a.k.a., mandibular repositioning appliance, or MRA) that is worn day and night and adjusted regularly over a few months to approximately a year until the jaw joint has healed and stabilized as much as possible and pain and muscle spasms have been reduced or eliminated.  Both the bite guard and the orthotic treatment can be complimented with additional treatment and therapies to help relieve the associated symptoms, spasms and pain. 

A TMJ/CFP/neuromuscular dentist takes the alignment of your temporomandibular joint into account every time they perform a dental procedure, helping to ensure that the joint stays healthy so you don't develop TMJ symptoms or exacerbate any derangement or degeneration that is already there.

If you are suffering from TMJ symptoms, or if you would like to learn more about TMJ, CFP or neuromuscular dentistry, contact The Smile Centre to schedule an initial consultation.  The Smile Centre serves patients in Venice, Sarasota, Bradenton, and surrounding areas.