Chronic Pain Relief

Freedom From Chronic Pain

Millions have suffered years of chronic headache and facial pain. Many of those are the result of an imbalance between the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), the muscles of chewing, and the teeth. 95% of those cases can experience long-term drug-free relief. Often within 24 hours! Learn the cause-and-effect relationship, and how proper diagnosis can lead to a happier, healthier life.

What is TMJ?
Many people, even doctors, nurses, and insurance companies, use the term TMJ. But what does this abbreviation mean? The term TMJ is an abbreviation for Temporo-Mandibular Joint, or the jaw joint. In fact, there are really two TMJs, one in front of each ear. The TMJ is the joint formed by the temporal bone of the skull (Temporo) with the lower jaw or mandible (hence, mandibular). These joints move each time we chew, talk or even swallow. The TMJ is actually a sliding joint and not a ball-and-socket like the shoulder. This sliding allows for pressures placed on the joint to be distributed throughout the joint and not just in one area. The TMJ is the most complex joint in the human body. Placed between these two bones is a disc, just like the one between your back bones. This disc is primarily made of cartilage and in the TMJ acts like a third bone. The disc, being attached to a muscle, actually moves with certain movements of the TMJ.

The nerve to the TMJ is a branch of the trigeminal nerve and therefore, an injury to the TMJ may be confused with neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve. The two bones of the TMJ are held together by a series of ligaments, any of which can be damaged, just like any other joint. A damaged TMJ ligament usually results in a dislocation of the disc, the lower jaw, or both. Also, the bones are connected by two main muscles: the temporalis, the masseter, and a muscle just discovered, the zygomandibular. Any or all of these muscles may be painful and produce pain in the TMJ or at the very least, abnormal movement of the lower jaw.

"Chronic headache and facial pain sufferers experience a silent segregation from the world around them. Their plight is often invisible to the outside world, save those who would read their pain".

Chronic headache and facial pain can range from being occasionally distracting to totally debilitating. Some sufferers have said that others cannot readily imagine their plight without having experienced it personally. Those whose symptoms are mild and infrequent may not even question the source. Others, who've lived with the ongoing battle, may wonder if they'll ever find long-term relief.

Could it be a dental problem? A large number of cases involving headache, muscle spasms and jaw joint pain are absolutely a dental problem. The Medical and Dental professions increasingly are becoming aware of the intricate relationship between proper bite and the muscles and nerves of the jaw joint. A very delicate and predictably reproduceable balance must occur in the chewing system for total harmony, comfort, and stability.

Treatment of TMJ
With today's new technologies and increased understanding, dentists with specific, advanced training in TMJ disorders can diagnose and successfully treat the large majority of these cases: in fact, if a TMJ disorder is determined, predictable long-term relief is achievable 95% of the time -- via a wide range of dental treatments. For long-term relief, TMJ treatments address the cause of the imbalance and subsequent pain, rather than just treat the symptoms.

Dentists use a variety of treatment modalities which may be divided into Phase I and Phase II Therapy. The purpose of Phase I Therapy is to eliminate muscle spasms, TMJ swelling and dislocation (if possible), and generally reduce any type of pain. This treatment usually includes the use of splints, exercises, medication, local anesthetic injections, injections of other medications, physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. The purpose of Phase II Therapy is to definitively correct any discrepancies, if necessary, between the upper and lower jaws. Phase II Therapy may include adjustment of the dental occlusion, orthodontics, reconstruction of the teeth, surgery, or a combination of some of the above treatments. It is important to note that Phase II Therapy should not be attempted without successful Phase I Therapy modalities.

Phase I Treatment. Phase I treatment for TMJ is conservative treatment, producing no irreversible changes. Generally, the use of an intraoral splint, medications, chiropractic or physical therapy, and life-style changes are very effective in treating most truly TMJ problems. Other disorders which mimic TMJ (for example, temporal tendonitis, Ernest syndrome) are often treated with Phase I therapy with medications, injections of local anesthetic and other medications, and soft tissue treatment.

Phase II Treatment. Phase II treatment is, by definition of the American Dental Association, non-reversible, invasive therapy. Adjustment of the occlusion (adjusting the "bite"), orthodontic treatment, the placement of crowns, and surgery of all types most certainly produce changes which can't be reversed. Therefore, it is most important that no one undergoes Phase II Treatment until a correct diagnosis is established and proven as the cause of the symptoms.

Last of all, if a TMJ sufferer is experiencing severe emotional and/or psychological problems (which if often the case for many reasons), failure to address these most important issues will virtually guarantee a surgical failure. Psychological (as well as physical) problems must be considered as sources of unresolved pain complaints involving the TMJ or associated structures.

If you think you may suffer from TMJ, please call us at 843-559-3530 to schedule an appointment.

Additional links and Information about TMJ

www.leadingdentist.com

www.lvilive.com

www.lvidocs.com

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