WHAT IS “TMJ” or “TMD”?
“TMJ”, although it has become almost a household word, is a non-specific, catch-all term for a variety of pain/dysfunction conditions of the head and neck. It was originally derived from “Temporomandibular Joint”, your jaw joints- once thought to be the source of most of these ailments.

Today we know that there are many causes of head and neck problems that may or may not be related to the temporomandibular joint. For this reason, although not as widely familiar, most dentists use “TMD” (for temporomandibular disorders) to more accurately describe the condition.

You may normally think of a number of the symptoms of TMD as being medical conditions, not related to dentistry. This will explain what they are, why they may involve a dentist, and how Dr. Ishida would diagnose and treat them.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF TMD
Pain or dysfunction of the head and neck is a very common condition and one that might be resolved very simply or might be very complex and frustrating to treat, depending upon the circumstances.

The bite can be a factor in many types of pain or functional problems because of the inter-relationship of the overall musculoskeletal system. Since there is a relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, head and neck muscles, and head posture, a problem in any one of these areas may affect others. These can include painful clicking or popping of the jaw joint, various types of head and neck pain, swallowing problems, postural problems, and excessive snoring or sleep apnea, to mention a few.

If it is suspected that you suffer from this type of problem, a neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Ishida may ask you if you have any of the symptoms shown below.

In addition, he will be looking for a number of signs in your posture, appearance and condition of your teeth, and existing bite that might aid in diagnosis. An imperfect bite often plays a significant role in these conditions and the dentist experienced in treating them may resolve the problem alone. However, diagnosing these problems can be very difficult at times and may require the collective efforts of a dentist and other health care professionals. These may include your physician, and ear, nose and throat specialist, physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist, to name just a few. ( no need to insert the skeleton here either)

THE DENTIST’S DIAGNOSIS
The neuromuscular dentist will consider all of the information gathered by taking your history and doing a physical examination of your teeth, head and neck. When indicated, they may conduct a series of tests using non-invasive electronic instruments. Data from these tests will indicate whether your bite is a major contributing factor to your problem and will help rule in or rule out your bite as the cause of, or major component of, your condition.

If these tests show that your habitual bite is a probable cause of your condition or pain, the neuromuscular dentist then identifies a jaw position determined by the relaxed state of the muscles. This jaw position and the corresponding new bite is called neuromuscular occlusion.

TREATMENT
Treatment is with an orthotic as explain under the “ Dental Treatment for Headaches”.