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Cosmetic Dentistry for San Antonio, TexasThe South Texas Center for Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Craig Carlson & Dr. Yana Monarres 400 North Loop 1604 East 210-499-4949
Change Your Smile, Change Your Life!
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TMJ Pain, Noise and Problems
Definition Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ disorders) are problems of the chewing muscles and joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull. If the teeth do not meet properly, the muscles must work to hold the jaw in that improper bite. We are not born with noisy, painful joints and we don't have headaches and head pain early in life. Overworking the system that moves the lower jaw causes breakdown and pain in the muscles and/or joints.
Causes Many headaches including migraine headaches are related to muscles that are overworked. The big muscles of the head and neck are only there for one reason...to position the mandible and close the teeth together for chewing or swallowing. If the teeth don't come together in an relaxed jaw position, the muscles must work constantly to hold the mandible in a compromised position. This results in sub-conscious clenching or grinding of the teeth which causes the muscles to work even more. The consequence of this vicious cycle is pain in the muscles of the head, face and neck that is often diagnosed as tension headache, migraine headache or cluster headache pain. Sinus headaches are different as they do not have a muscular factor. Unless you have suffered a traumatic injury to your jaw, there is only one cause for TMJ problems and that is an incorrect bite.
Self Test Almost no one realizes they have a bite that is not correct or that they are clenching or grinding. Many patients say their spouse never hears them. The problem with that is that adults don't make noise grinding like children do. If you grind right now, chances are you will not make noise. Bruxing is the name dentists give to this abnormal activity of grinding. Here is a self test to see if an improper bight might be causing your headache or TMJ pain.
TMJ No one is born with bad jaw joints. In time over-worked muscles and improper bite lead to jaw joint problems and pain. This is known as TMJ syndrome (temporomandibular joint syndrome.) A common symptom for women resulting from muscle fatigue and TMJ breakdown is a headache, often of migraine severity, behind the eyes and/or in the area of the temples. Men experience less headache and more neck stiffness or soreness. Neck stiffness or soreness almost always accompanies TMJ syndrome. Another common symptom is noise in the joint as it breaks down.
Joint Noises The clicking or popping noise in front of the ear is the jaw (temporomandibular) joint breaking down. The noise is the cartilage in the joint that becomes deformed from prolonged overuse. With further breakdown, a grating noise begins which is the bone of the skull rubbing against the bone of the mandible when the cartilage becomes perforated. There may also be pain or soreness in the muscles of the face and jaw in this area due to overworking them. Ear congestion or ringing in the ears and vertigo are also common signs.
Grinding/Clenching Bruxing is a most destructive habit. The joints, muscles, and teeth are in conflict. The teeth become worn and can be cracked or will shift from the forces of bruxing. The enamel can flake off at the gum line causing notching on the teeth receiving the most intense force. Neuromuscular dentistry is treatment focused on creating harmony between the joints, the muscles and the teeth. This photo is an example of the extreme wear that can occur.
Treatment Treatment includes determining what is wrong with the bite that caused the muscles to become tense. This is done with computer analysis of the muscles and jaw movements. Finding the proper jaw position allows the muscles relax by removing the stimulus that caused the original problem. Chiropractic treatment, physical therapy and massage therapy can help to temporarily relax the muscles, but if the pain is recurring, these procedures are only a short term cure. The cause must be determined and dealt with. If a "bad bite" is causing the muscles to work constantly to position the jaw in the wrong place, the bite is the underlying cause and should be treated.
The South Texas Center for Cosmetic Dentistry proudly serving Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, Dominion, Stone Oak, Sonterra, San Marcos, Del Rio, Pleasanton, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Laredo, Uvalde, Corpus Christi, Kerrville, Universal City and San Antonio Texas.
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