Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) often causes patients pain that may be chronic or debilitating, impeding their ability to function on a daily basis. Despite this pain, the indicators and causes of TMD can be somewhat mysterious to general practitioners. Getting a proper diagnosis, much less finding lasting relief, can be difficult if you do not find the right person for help.
The most qualified medical professionals to identify and treat a case of TMD are Grand Rapids neuromuscular dentists Dr. Jerry Mulder and Dr. Allyson Mulder at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan. Our doctors use the principles of neuromuscular dentistry, applied through state-of-the-art tools and techniques, to diagnose and treat TMD, providing lasting relief from your chronic pain and headaches.
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to TMD.
TMD occurs when the temporomandibular joint, which connects your lower jaw to your skull, enters a state of dysfunction. When this occurs, the dysfunction in the joint affects your surrounding network of nerves, joints, and muscles, starting with the jaw joints and eventually spreading through the face, head, neck, and even shoulders, if the disorder goes untreated.
Other causes of TMD include the following:
One of the challenges in diagnosing TMD successfully is the fact that symptoms can vary widely. That said, however, pain is a frequently reported symptom of the disorder. This is because the temporomandibular joints are in proximity to the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for transmitting more sensory information to your brain than any other neural pathway in the body. A dysfunction in the temporomandibular joints easily can compress, impact or aggravate the trigeminal nerve, which generates impulses of pain that may lead to headaches or widespread pain.
This pain may manifest in your jaw joints, or in the face, neck, shoulders, or even the back. Pain from TMD may appear to migrate to different teeth or locations in the mouth with no apparent rhyme or reason. Pain also may occur as frequent headaches, which are so intense that they can be and often are misdiagnosed as migraines.
Other common symptoms of TMD may include:
Click here for a complete list of common symptoms of TMD.
Neuromuscular dentists have the unique training that traditional dentists lack when it comes to diagnosing and treating TMD. Neuromuscular dentistry is a field that uses specific training and technology to determine and restore the ideal alignment of your bite and jaw. This specialization requires significant, rigorous post-graduate education following dental school. At TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan, our doctors possess this post-graduate training and education that makes them ideal for diagnosing and treating TMD.
Click here to learn more about neuromuscular dentistry, and its importance.
Our doctors can perform an examination that includes investigating for signs of pain and tenderness in your jaw joints. Our diagnostic method often includes the K-7 system, which uses a combination of electromyography and joint sonography to determine the ideal alignment of your bite and jaws by identifying any clicking or popping sounds as your mouth opens and closes. We also may take digital X-rays to determine the extent of any possible damage to the joint and surrounding bone.
The doctors at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan may employ a combined approach of treatments including the following methods:
A popular and effective method of treatment for TMD is the prescription of a custom-made oral appliance. These devices look similar to a mouth guard, and each oral appliance is made from digital impressions of the mouth to provide a custom fit. When worn, this oral appliance guides your lower jaw gently into its preferred natural alignment, alleviating the stress on the temporomandibular joints and any other symptoms occurring as consequences of the disorder.
No! Failing to seek treatment is the worst decision you can make if you have been diagnosed with TMD. Only a qualified medical professional like a neuromuscular dentist can identify and resolve the disorder.
TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan can help. Call us today at (616) 929-0892 to schedule a consultation at our Grand Rapids office.
TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan is here to serve patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids, Michigan.
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