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Could You Have TMD (TMJ)? Diagnosis

June 29, 2015

Do you have headaches frequently, coupled with fatigue in the face and jaws?
Do you find it difficult to open, or even close, your mouth?
Are you plagued by what seem to be unexplained but severe toothaches, earaches, or pain in your neck and upper shoulders?

These may be a sign that you are suffering from a devastating disorder called TMD. TMD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. An estimated 3 million diagnoses are made annually in the US, but despite how common TMD is, making a proper diagnosis so that treatment can begin can be difficult, because TMD looks very similar to a number of other problems.

Your dentist at Really Smile (in Carmel, IN) has the tools, the team, and the talent needed to determine if your issue is TMD and can provide therapies and treatments that will help control your symptoms, and possibly even end them forever.

TMD is also sometimes referred to as TMJ, but this is incorrect; TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint itself. The TMJ is a ball-and-socket joint that allows your jaw to move up and down, as well as side to side so that you are able to chew, talk, or yawn (for example).

Why Is A TMD Diagnosis So Difficult?

Diagnosing TMD can be a challenge because it can look like a lot of other disorders and diseases, some of which may even be more serious than TMD. To avoid treating you for the wrong problem, a TMD diagnosis must be very accurate.

TMD Looks Like…

TMD shares symptoms with the following diseases and disorders:

Hypokinesia or Hyperkinesia (abnormalities in jaw movement)
Scleroderma (chronic hardening of the skin)
Inflammation of the salivary gland, arteries in the temple, and/or the muscles
Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain, discomfort, numbness, or spasms)
Calcification of the muscles (formation of bone outside the skeleton)
Symptoms caused by cancer of the nasopharynx (the uppermost part of the throat)
Lyme disease

TMD symptoms can also appear to be much more mundane issues, such as a sinus infection, earache, or a toothache.

How Will My Really Smile Dentist Make My Diagnosis?

Your dentist will first want to take a deep look into your general medical history, as TMD symptoms might be a complication of another problem you have already, or a problem that you might have overcome in the past.

Once other possibilities are eliminated, your dentist will then evaluate the movement of your jaws. Your dentist will examine your bite and your facial muscles. Obvious signs, such as pain (with a specific movement), the audible popping or clicking sound that is often associated with TMD, and any abnormalities in the behavior of your jaws (such as a tendency to “lock up” in either the open or closed position).

Really Smile has invested in some of the most advanced imaging technology available in dentistry today. Instead of 2-D conventional x-rays that only provide a limited view of your masticatory system (the muscles, tissues, and bones involved in the movement of the jaws), your dentist will use a Cone Beam Scanner.

The cone beam scanner is an evolution of the x-ray machine. It takes multiple x-ray images of the area being examined while rotating a full 360 degrees. These images are combined into a three dimensional single image. This image provides greater visibility, and because it is a digital image, your dentist is able to better manipulate, store, and if necessary, transmit the image to the rest of other healthcare professionals.

Why Should I Choose Really Smile for My TMD Diagnosis and Treatment?

Many dentists can treat TMD, but at Really Smile, your dentist, Dr. David Smith, is a specialist in the field of neuromuscular dentistry. Neuromuscular dentistry is the study of the masticatory system, and a specialist in neuromuscular dentistry can provide treatments that work faster and more effectively than others might.

Neuromuscular dentistry goes beyond just the teeth and gums; it encompasses all the body’s symptoms. The goal of neuromuscular dentistry is to align the jaw properly; when the jaw is in proper alignment, a number of problems including TMD but also the symptoms of sleep apnea. These two common but serious disorders can be linked, and Dr. Smith is an expert in treating them both.

I’ve Had Frequent Headaches, Earaches, and Other Pain For Years.

Then there’s no time like today to finally put a stop to it! TMD can last years without proper treatment. To treat your TMD, your dentist may prescribe the use of an oral appliance (similar to a mouthguard), exercises, and even changes to your lifestyle; the goal is to “retrain” your jaws to reach their correct alignment. When this is achieved, you will notice a dramatic decrease in the severity of your TMD symptoms (if they aren’t eliminated entirely).

Call us today to make your appointment! Dial 317-451-4050 to reach our front desk, or use our handy online appointment form to book your visit right now!

Could You Have TMD (TMJ)? The Symptoms

June 25, 2015

Frequent headaches can put a real damper on your lifestyle. You might be getting ready for a fun evening out (Carmel, IN has no shortage of great things to see and do after all), then BAM: you’ve got a severe headache and your plans will have to change, or you’ll simply resign yourself to missing out.

Headaches and other frequent pain have a virtually limitless list of potential causes. One very common cause behind these problems is a disorder known as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. Your Really Smile dentist can help you determine if you’re suffering from TMD and provide you with a variety of treatments and therapies to help control the symptoms of TMD.

What is TMD?

You may have also heard this disorder referred to as TMJ. Technically, TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint, which is the focus of TMD symptoms. TMD can cause a lot of pain and difficulty for those who suffer from it (we’ll get into the specific symptoms shortly). TMD is a very common but painful condition that can drastically reduce your quality of life. About 3 million cases of TMD are diagnosed every year in the US alone.

Okay, So What is the TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is found on both sides of your head, is what connects your jaw to the bones in front of each ear (these bones are called the temporal bones, which play a role in protecting your brain as well as providing structural support for your face, specifically your temples). The TMJ is a ball-and-socket joint, and is responsible for facilitating up-and-down and side-to-side movements of the jaw. This makes the TMJ anatomically very significant when you chew, talk, yawn, or laugh; basically, any time you might need to “open wide”.

What Causes TMD?

The exact physiological reasons as to why you might develop TMD is still unknown. However, strong correlations to certain factors, such as injury, disease, and even lifestyle have been established.

Serious injuries that might cause TMD to develop include:

Whiplash (due to an auto accident, for example)
A Slipped Disc (between the ball and socket that make up the TMJ is a disc made of cartilage. Cartilage is similar to bone but is not as hard and rigid; cartilage is more soft and helps to absorb shocks and to prevent the parts of the joint from scraping together. You have similar discs in your back, and just as you might have known a person who has suffered from a slipped disc in their back, the disc in the TMJ can also slip)

Diseases that might cause TMD to develop include:

Arthritis (chronic inflammation in the joints)

Gum Disease (gum disease, or periodontal disease, is very common and very serious: an estimated 22 million people have it, and it is the number one cause of tooth loss; gum disease weakens the tissues and bones in your oral cavity, which might lead to TMD symptoms)

Bruxism (More commonly known as teeth-grinding; however, TMD might even cause you to have bruxism as a complication and not necessarily the cause).

In terms of your lifestyle, excessive or ineffectively managing stress can also be a big contributor to TMD symptoms (and a number of other problems, including bruxism).

What Are The Symptoms I Can Look Out For?

Getting a proper diagnosis of TMD is somewhat challenging, because the symptoms of the disorder are very similar to a number of other ailments that could even be more serious than TMD, such as Lyme disease.

However, there are symptoms that you can watch for, and if you observe them, you should come in immediately for an evaluation (even if only to eliminate TMD as a possibility).

Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

Frequent pain, including headaches (that seem to “radiate” from the temples), toothaches, neck pain, or pain in the upper shoulders, and/or the face and jaws; pain will also seem to be located around or even in the ear (and may feel like an ear infection)
Fatigue in the face and/or jaw
Difficulty “opening wide”, or pain when it is attempted. Alternatively, your jaw has a tendency to “lock up”, either when the mouth is open or closed.
A sense that your bite is somehow “off” (caused potentially by a failure of the jaws to align properly)
Swelling on the sides of the face
An audible clicking or popping sound when the jaws are moved
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Tingling in the fingers and extremities
Teeth are showing considerable signs of wear; teeth may appear to be “shorter” as a result (TMD can go undetected for years; over time, the protective layer of enamel can be worn off to the point that the softer part of your tooth is exposed; it takes years to wear down enamel, but once that is gone, the inside of the tooth will wear down much faster)

What Can My Dentist Do?

Your Really Smile dentist can provide you with a TMD diagnosis, and based on your specific needs, create a program of treatment to help manage, and ideally, eliminate the recurring symptoms of TMD. The diagnosis may require the use of our advanced imaging technology, as well as an in-depth look at your overall health history, in addition to evaluating the symptoms as they are presented.

Think Your Frequent Pain is Caused by TMD?

Give us a call and schedule an appointment! TMD pain can be eliminated, but it needs to be diagnosed correctly first; if you’re seeing what appear to be familiar symptoms in this post, you should seek help from your dentist as soon as possible. The faster you fix the problem, the faster you can start enjoying life more!

Call us today at 317-451-4050 or click here for our online appointment form to book your visit now.

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