“Without diagnosis, there can be no cure.” -Hypocrites

Did you know that if you are a woman you are twice as likely to suffer from the pain caused by TMD? You might know it as TMJ syndrome. Temporomandibular joint disease is a painful condition affecting the jaw and soft tissues that allow you to use your mouth to speak, bite and chew. The pain can range from a mild ache to being chronically debilitating.

Other symptoms are:

• Headaches-Migraines especially can be associated with TMD

• Jaw, neck, or ear pain

• Clicking or popping noises when you chew

• Sensitive teeth or vague tooth soreness

• Jaw locking opened or closed

Our team is focused on giving you the best care possible. To accomplish this we regularly attend continuing education courses that help us add to our skills and knowledge. Our most recent course dealt with TMD diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis involves three steps:

1. Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) uses headphones to discern what is going on in the jaw bone as it functions. This diagnostic tool is much more affordable and definitely less time consuming than an MRI which was usually used in the past.

2. Jaw tracker (JT) helps discern the point of dysfunction in the jaw in a non- invasive way.

3. Tech scan-to measure occlusion (bite) has the patient bite down on a special sensor which can make an instant diagnosis of occlusion problems.

These evaluations provide enough information to locate the pain or jaw problem, make a diagnosis and to start treatment. Simple, conservative treatment is usually all that is needed.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above please call our office for a consultation. Working together we can find the right solution for your problem.