If you have http://smilepictureperfect.com/tmd-headaches.html”>recurring headaches of uncertain cause, you may have TMJ. You may have a number of its uncomfortable symptoms and not realize that they’re all stemming from the same cause. Besides headaches, they can be:
- Earaches or ringing in the ears
- Facial pain
- Habits of tooth grinding or jaw clenching
- Chronic tension or pain in the neck and shoulders
- Poor posture
- Noises in the jaw joints when you move them
- Limited jaw movement
- Premature teeth wear
- Tingling in the hands and fingers
- Depression
Visit a Neuromuscular Dentist
Most general dentists do not diagnose TMJ. They do not have the training or the technology to do so. You need to see a qualified neuromuscular dentist who will be able to assess your entire mouth and its movement, not just the condition of your teeth and gums. A neuromuscular dentist looks at the way your upper and lower teeth meet, the way the jaw moves, and the condition of the jaw muscles and nerves.
The traditional separation of dentistry and medicine is beginning to disappear. A lot of research has found strong connections between dental health and general health, and this is not surprising. The mouth does share the same blood circulation, nervous system, lymph system, and skeletal system. The jaw bones are closely connected to the upper spine and the skull. Pain from the jaw can easily be felt in other areas.
Pain Relief in Your TMJ Diagnosis
One of the devices used to diagnose your TMJ is a TENS unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation). Your neuromuscular dentist will place the TENS electrodes at strategic positions on your head, face, and neck and the little machine will administer mild electrical stimulation to those muscles.
It takes only 30 or 40 minutes of this to relax your chronically tense jaw muscles. When they are relaxed, your jaw is in its correct position, and it may have been years since that last happened. The goal of your TMJ treatment will be to make that correct position permanent.
Gathering Your Bite Information
Another device used in TMJ diagnosis is the K7 Evaluation System. This is a computerized system with various headpieces that you wear while different types of information are measured and recorded. The K7 system generates a detailed printout with data on your jaw joint sounds, jaw muscle movements, and jaw muscle electrical activity. You will be given a patient version of this that is easy to understand.
Your neuromuscular dentist will also give you a thorough dental exam and ask you questions. He or she will explain what the data means that has been gathered about your bite and jaw and will describe ways it can be used to treat your TMJ. Treatment is always customized, since each case of TMJ is individual.
If you are in the St. Louis, Missouri area and would like to know more about TMJ and whether you might be suffering from it, please visit thehttp://smilepictureperfect.com/tmd.html”>website of Dr. Kirk Quigless.
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