A variety of tests help confirm or rule out a diagnosis of TMJ disorder. Tomographic or transcranial x-rays are head x-rays that record images of bones and reveal joint damage, fracture, or tumors. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) produces detailed images of soft tissue, revealing damage in discs or ligaments. An EMG (electromyogram) measures how tight your muscles are. You may have other tests, too.
Dental casts are models of your teeth that help diagnose your particular bite problem. They help your doctor study details of your bite-how your teeth line up. Your doctor takes an impression of your mouth and forms plaster models, which may be mounted on a jaw movement simulator. This mechanical device helps reproduce the movement of your lower jaw.
Occlusal Splint- Your doctor may recommend that you wear a splint-a clear, plastic appliance that fits over your top or bottom teeth-to establish harmony between your muscles, bite, and joint. There are three types of splints that work in various ways, but accomplish many of the same goals. Splints may reduce bruxism by keeping your teeth apart, help relax muscles, and reduce pain. They also can change jaw posture enough to stabilize some bite problems and reduce pressure in your TMJ. It may not be easy to get used to wearing and caring for your splint, but it is an important treatment that may last for six months or more.
How a splint works- Your doctor makes a splint to help diagnose and improve your joint problems. There are different types of splints for different purposes. A bruxism splint or night guard-worn mostly at night, helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension. A repositioning appliance move your jaw forward, realigning parts of your jaw. It is worn 24 hours a day to help your jaw heal. An orthopedic stabilization appliance is worn 24 hours or just at night, it relaxes muscles and lets your joint move into its proper position. Getting used to your splint can be difficult. A splint can mean the difference between your TMJ getting better or worse, but it is not always so easy to get used to wearing one. You may worry about how you will look and sound when you’re wearing a splint, or feel that you won’t be able to eat food with a splint in your mouth. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make it easier to talk and eat with your splint.
Wearing and caring for your splint- After your doctor takes impressions of your teeth, you’ll have your splint adjusted as your jaw posture changes. At first you hay wear the splint 24 hours a day, then only at night, depending on your particular problem. Since everyone’s TMJ disorder is different, your doctor will give you exact instructions about when to wear your splint. Clean your splint when you brush your teeth. If your splint cracks, have it repaired immediately, so exposed teeth don’t move.
Every time you bite and chew, parts of your TMJ move. Like grinding gears of a car, teeth that don’t fit together right may strain your TMJ. Sometimes a splint is all that’s needed to improve a bad bit. But you may need other treatment, like orthodontics or restorative work to correct more serious bite problems and restore the harmony between your bite and joint.
Orthodontics is a kind of dental work that moves and repositions groups of teeth to create a stable bite. Worn from 12 months to three years, braces are the most common type of orthodontics. In some cases, patients need a procedure that realigns the jaw (orthognathic surgery) along with their orthodontic work. After the braces align your teeth, your jaw joint can work more smoothly, without straining.
Restorative dental work changes the shape or size of individual teeth to create a stable bite. If a tooth is missing, a bridge or an implant may be built to replace it. If a tooth is too big, it can be shaved down to make your teeth hit more evenly (occlusal adjustment). If a tooth is too small a crown can be added to teeth come together better. Once your bite is restored to proper alignment, your joint can move more smoothly.
Surgery can also help restore the harmony in your jaw joint and eliminate the pain and other symptoms of TMJ disorders. With other treatment available, surgery is rarely needed, especially if your problem is diagnosed and treated early enough. In some cases, however, the joint becomes so severely damaged that you require surgery to correct it, such as when your jaw won’t unlock. Arthroscopy-This procedure is used most often for TMJ disorders that don’t respond to other treatment. Through a small hole, your doctor inserts a time arthroscope , removed any scar tissue, and flushes the joint. Soft Tissue Repair-People with severe soft tissue damage may need this procedure to tighten up stretched connective tissue and ligaments. It also puts the disc back into position, releasing locked jaws. Joint Restructuring-This surgery is used primarily for arthritis patients with badly deteriorated joints, such as severed discs or discs with holes in them. The condyle is smoothed and the joint is restructured.
From biting and talking to chewing and yawning, your TMJ always comes into play. So when something goes wrong with your jaw joint, it an cause you much discomfort. But with the right diagnosis and treatment, most people do find relief from the pain and other symptoms of a TMJ disorder-and you can, too.
Dr James A Miller, Aesthetic Dentist - Providing cosmetic, neuromuscular and IV sedation dentistry to the areas of Hillsboro and Portland, Oregon.
Portland aesthetic dentist
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