What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular disorder, or TMJ, is a painful disorder of the temporomandibular joint, (TMJ), a complex structure of jaw muscles and joints found just in front of each ear that help you talk, chew and speak. When problems keep these joints from working properly, pain and other issues occur.
Sometimes, patients develop TMJ suddenly, from injury to the head, face or neck. However, the exact cause cannot always be pinpointed. Some patients live with TMJ for many years before discovering TMJ treatment exists.
TMJ affects as many as 60 million people of all ages, with most TMJ problems manifesting during teenage years as relentless, sharp pain, chronic discomfort, or grinding and clenching of the teeth.
Many TMJ patients have been treated by various doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists and chiropractors without relief. Unfortunately, these treatments do not address the root of the problem, jaw misalignment. Neuromuscular dentistry, however, treats the cause of your symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves.
TMJ Symptoms
While symptoms of TMJ vary, the most common TMJ symptoms include:
- Pain in the jaw joint or surrounding areas
- Problem using the jaw
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint
- Limited movement or locking of the jaw
- Tingling or numbness in fingers or arms
- A bit that feels uncomfortable or misaligned
- Headache or migraines
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Swelling of the jaw
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Ringing in the ears
- Teeth grinding
- Difficulty swallowing
TMJ is often difficult to diagnose because the TMJ symptoms mimic those of many other conditions. Dr. Krasowski will perform a complete evaluation including a detailed medical history and physical examination of the face, head, neck and jaw areas to determine if TMJ is causing your symptoms.
Many general dentists do not have the specialized training in neuromuscular dentistry to treat TMJ. In the skillful hands of a trained neuromuscular dentist like Dr. John Krasowski, however, the cause of your TMJ can be uncovered and your symptoms alleviated.
Dr. Krasowski’s expertise in treating TMJ offers a permanent solution to improving your dental health, achieving pain relief and developing a comprehensive plan for ongoing management of TMJ.
TMJ Treatment
Once Dr. Krasowski has diagnosed you with TMJ, he can determine the best course of TMJ treatment for your particular needs. Because research has shown that the underlying conditions causing TMJ are either structural, biochemical or emotional, Dr. Krasowski will address each of these conditions. By treating any misalignments in the jaw bite or position, Dr. Krasowski can remedy the structural problems as well as helping the biochemical and emotional elements by relieving pain.
Usually, TMJ treatment will involve:
- Relieving muscle spasms and pain by using a Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) unit. The TENS unit uses a rhythmic pulsing motion to relax your muscles by increasing blood flow and pumping out any waste products. The TENS unit also helps with pain relief by increasing your body’s production of endorphins, a natural anesthetic.
- Stabilizing your bite. Dr. Krasowski can provide you with a temporary device to wear over your teeth. This device will allow Dr. Krasowski to make gentle corrections until your bite is stabilized. Then your bite can be permanently adjusted to the correct position.
- Providing long term care. Dr. Krasowski will provide you with long term care management options to ensure that your bite remains stabilized and your TMJ symptoms resolved.
Please contact TMJ Dentist, Dr. Krasowski today to schedule your consultation. While located in the Wausau Area, Krasowski Dental conveniently serves the surrounding areas of Rhinelander, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
