***UPDATED: August 22, 2013*** Great news for all suffers of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ was recently reported in a Fox News story.  A new approach to diagnosing TMJ allows dentists to pinpoint the source of the problem, making treatment of the painful disorder more effective and efficient.  Trans-epithelial nerve stimulation, or TENS, is used to relax the muscles, making it possible to determine if the pain is rooted in the bones, teeth, or muscles of the mouth.  If it’s determined that the teeth are the issue, realignment to adjust the bite would be an appropriate and effective treatment plan.  If it’s a musculature problem, then physical therapy would help.  Stretching out the hips, pelvis, and thighs, as well as realigning the spine and neck can decrease TMJ pain significantly.  By better identifying the cause of the pain, patients are now able to receive the most effective treatment, cutting down on wasted time and money while quickly relieving the pain associated with TMJ.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a common condition that affects millions of people from children to adults.  It’s generally defined as chronic inflammation causing discomfort to the jaw or skull area and can cause extreme pain and headaches.

Some symptoms associated with TMJ include:

• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Popping or clicking when opening mouth
• Dull pain in the face
• Earache
• Headache
• Hearing loss
• Migraine
• Tenderness in the jaw
• Inability to open and close mouth
• Tinnitus
• Neck and shoulder pain

There are many ways to relieve this type of discomfort, and even procedures to permanently fix the issue.  It’s important to look into Miami sedation dentistry if you have any of these symptoms and think you may benefit from a consultation to explore the possibility of the common TMJ.