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Heck & Heck, Ltd.
435 W. Prospect Ave.
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
Ph: 866.525.7755
Signs and symptoms of TMJ
- Frequent headaches
- Worn teeth
- Clicking and popping in the jaw joint
- Painful muscles in the head/face, neck and shoulders
- Earaches
- Pain behind the eyes
- Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
- Ringing or congestion in the ears
- Tingling fingers
- Sensitive or loose teeth
- Clenching or grinding of the teeth
TMJ Disorder
Myofacial pain, commonly known as TMJ disorder or TMD, is a source of constant pain for millions of Americans. Often misdiagnosed as migraine headache, neuritis, or even stress-related illness, TMJ disorder is characterized by mild to severe pain and restricted movement in the jaw area – a serious set of conditions considering you use your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) virtually every time you open or close your mouth.
Sometimes, the symptoms of TMJ disorder are treated without getting to the source of the problem, but the neuromuscular dentistry provided by Dr. Heck seeks to remedy the disorder by restoring balance between the teeth, muscles, and joints.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Symptoms such as headaches, jaw clicking and popping, jaw tenderness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and neck and shoulder pain can all be alleviated with neuromuscular dentistry. Some patients also complain of sinus pain, limited jaw movement, dizziness, and unexplained sore throats. Historically, many of these symptoms have been incorrectly linked to other ailments. For instance, the most common of the symptoms -- frequent headaches -- was often lumped under the heading of migraines. Now we know that this particular pain is caused by the muscles that tighten during jaw clenching and teeth grinding.
Another symptom is neck and shoulder pain. While discomfort in this part of the body might seem unrelated to the mouth area, those who suffer from sore jaw muscles are likely to repeatedly tilt their heads, thereby forcing the neck, shoulder, and back muscles to compensate. Tingling or numbness in the hands and arms could also be an unsuspected sign of TMJ disorder, resulting from muscle spasms in the jaw, neck, back, and face that pinch nerves leading down the arms and hands. Yet another often misdiagnosed symptom is depression, which is caused by chemical changes in the brain brought on by chronic pain.
We take all of these symptoms seriously.
How is this diagnosed?
When diagnosing problems with your bite, Dr. Heck uses computerized technology to measure the function of your jaw muscles and the movement of your joint. Depending on the situation, this technology may include tomography, sonography (joint vibration analysis), electromyography, jaw tracking and a TENS unit.
Initial Measurements
Tomographs
These are specialized x-rays that give us a detailed view of the jaw joint. This allows us to check the health and position of the bones of your jaw joint.
Sonography or joint vibration analysis
This equipment measures the sounds in your jaw joint as you open and close your mouth, these measurements can help us identify joint damage or other problems.
Electromyography
Using electromyography we can measure the tension in your chewing muscles. When muscles are tense or strained, they give off tiny electrical currents.
Jaw tracking (K7 computer scans)
To track your jaw movements, we’ll place a tiny magnet just below your lower front teeth. The sensor unit then records the movement of the magnet when you move your jaw open and closed, side to side, and forward and backward.
Relax the muscles and measure again
Once we have measurements that show how your muscles and jaw presently work, we’ll need to compare them to others taken after your jaw muscles are relaxed and comfortable. If there is a difference between the two sets of measurements, a bad bite is likely to be the cause of your problems.
To make sure your muscles are in the most relaxed, comfortable position, we use a TENS unit. This device sends a mild, ultra-low frequency pulse into your chewing muscles through electrodes that adhere to your skin. This exercising of the muscles, typically for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, will relax your jaw muscles and reduce muscle pain. When the TENS treatment is complete, we’ll repeat the electromyography to be sure your muscles are more relaxed.
If they are sufficiently relaxed, we’ll then use the TENS unit and K7 jaw tracking equipment together. The TENS will make your jaw move along its most relaxed path of closure, and the K7 will record this movement on the computer and screen. This is critical because it shows us the jaw position that will allow your muscles and jaw joint to be the most stable and comfortable at rest and while eating and swallowing.
An Effective Treatment
Neuromuscular dentistry takes aim at the symptoms associated with TMJ disorder. Once a patient is diagnosed, we begin a treatment plan that addresses the most painful symptoms of muscle spasms and severe jaw pain. In most cases, a custom crafted acrylic device called an orthotic is fitted over the teeth and gently repositions the jaw to encourage bite stabilization. The orthotic is only worn temporarily for a few months until your jaw joint heals and the muscles become accustomed to resting, chewing, and swallowing in their most relaxed and healthy position. During this time, you will be given instructions on wearing and care for the orthotic, we’ll check on your progress, and periodically adjust the orthotic as needed.
Finally, Dr. Heck works with each patient in developing a plan to treat TMJ disorder. Depending on the patient and his or her individual needs, he may suggest one of the following treatments:
Long term Orthosis: : Some patients may require the use of an orthotic on a longer term basis and these devices may be made with more durable materials to last longer. This is still a temporary solution and nothing is done to permanently change the teeth.
Coronoplasty/Equilibration : If the bite is only slightly misaligned, we can simply adjust small areas of the teeth that are contacting each other incorrectly. The amount of enamel removed during this procedure is so slight that you probably won’t notice the difference in your smile, but it can have a dramatic effect on the position of your jaw.
Removable Porcelain Overlays : Designed to align and stabilize the bite, these ceramic build-ups are usually fitted and placed over the back teeth.
Reconstruction with Crowns : By building the teeth up with artificial tooth material, we can permanently realign the bite and establish a more stable support for the jaw. If teeth are missing, we may recommend replacing them with implants or bridges.
Orthodontics : For more advanced treatment, teeth may be permanently moved to their optimal position so they can support and provide healthy and comfortable jaw and muscle function. This is accomplished by using either traditional braces or state-of-the-art orthodontia.
If you would like more information on neuromuscular dentistry and TMJ therapy, please contact Dr. Heck today. We look forward to helping you find relief from this painful condition.