Is it Time to Consult a TMJ Specialist?

What Does Tmj Stand For?

TMJ stands for the TemporoMandibular Joint, the joint that’s right in front of the ear that works when you open and close your mouth. When patients tell me they have TMJ, that just means they are having problem with their jaw working smoothly or they are having pain.

How Did You Get To Be A Tmj Specialist? 

There is no such thing as a TMJ specialist.  All dentists are taught about TMJ in school. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in advanced training courses, and I’ve only seen a fraction of it. It’s a big field of study.

How Can A Person Tell If Their Headaches Or Neck Pain Has To Do With Their Tmj Or Their Bite?

They should ask their dentist. Dentists first look for signs of wear in their patient’s mouths that indicate an excess of force. The dentist will check the specific muscles that work the jaw. If they are sore or tender, then we know that the forces present exceed the patient’s ability to adapt, and we would expect pain or dysfunction.

You Mentioned A Nightguard. What Is A Nightguard?

It’s a piece of hard plastic or flexible rubber that fits over the teeth. It is worn at night while sleeping to keep the teeth apart. If a patient is wearing down their teeth by grinding at night, it helps prevent that wear. It also helps stop the headaches that result from excess forces.

I See Nightguard Products Offered Online And In The Pharmacy. Do Those Work?

It depends on the patient’s problem. If the only problem is that the patient is wearing down their teeth, then anything that separates the teeth will help stop that. But if the problem is the patient is having headaches or neck pain, the store-bought appliance might help or it might not. However, if the TMJ is clicking or popping, or painful to touch, or hurts when you open, or even gets locked open or closed, then a store-bought appliance is probably not going to help and might even make things worse.

Okay, So If The Tmj Is Clicking Or Popping, Or It Hurts, Then What Type Of Treatment Is Available?

There is no one treatment that works for everyone. The dentist must look carefully at the teeth and the bite and all the muscles and try to figure out what’s wrong with this system that is causing the pain. Sometimes the solution involves grinding on the teeth to reshape them. Sometimes it involves bonding on the teeth or making crowns to restore what has been worn down by grinding. Sometimes it involves braces.

When Should A Person Seek Help For A Tmj Problem?

The most important thing to know about a TMJ problem is that it’s not like the flu, where you have it for a while and get over it. This is a breakdown process that will continue until you change the conditions that are causing it. The symptoms seem to come and go, but the breakdown process just keeps advancing until the symptoms get worse.