Los Angeles TMJ

TMJ disorders means pain & discomfort

The Bible talks about a place of punishment where there will be "weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth." Bruxism, or the continual grinding and gnashing of teeth, is not only a symptom of psychological distress, it leads to destruction of the teeth and often to headache or jaw pain.

Jaw alignment disorders are very common. Sometimes they can be resolved simply. Other times they may be very complex and frustrating to treat.

If you don't have a comfortable rest position where your jaw can rest and your jaw muscles can relax, it can provoke muscles spasms, strain, and can lead to headaches or other pain. These problems are lumped into "TMJ" disorders or "TMD." TMJ is an abbreviation for "temporo-mandibular joint," which is the jaw joint. TMD is "temporo-mandibular dysfunction." Both TMJ and TMD are part of a  group of symptoms referred to as MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction) and craniomandibular dysfunction.

The temporo-mandibular joint is the most complex in the body. The lower jaw can not only open on a hinge, but it can slide forward and side-to-side. And since there is a relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, head and neck muscles, and head posture, a problem in any one of these areas may affect the others. Here is a list of symptoms of dysfunction of this joint:

• clicking, popping, or other noises of the jaw

• pain in the head and neck

• migraine headaches

• posture problems

• excessive snoring or sleep apnea

• tinnitus (ringing of the ears)

In a consultation, Dr. Nelson will take a medical and dental history and do an examination of your teeth. He may conduct tests with high tech electronic instruments. This will help indicate whether your bite is a major contributing factor to your problem.

TMJ Treatment

If you are diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder of your jaw joint, treatment usually involves three steps:

• Pain relief.
  This is our first priority. Dr. Nelson uses a technology called ULF-TENS: Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation. This is gentle massage of the muscles that helps them relax. It increases blood flow and provides pain relief by stimulating the production of endorphins.

• Stabilize your bite.
  We may prescribe a temporary device, known as an orthotic, to wear over your teeth. Adjusting the orthotic helps Dr. Nelson determine the correct position of your bite for maximum comfort. Wearing the orthotic can relieve your pain and other symptoms. Then he will be able to adjust your bite to the correct position.

• Developing a long term solution.
  There are several methods used for long-term bite correction. Which one is appropriate depends on the extent of your problem. One way is to shape your teeth to correct your bite. These shaping adjustments are precise, but very small, and the procedure doesn't require anesthesia. Shaping can be used when your bite is only slightly out of alignment. A second way is to create a permanent orthotic that will fit over your teeth that you would wear at certain times. Or, sometimes bite reconstruction is needed. With bite reconstruction, crowns or onlays are used to re-shape your teeth. Finally, in some cases, orthodontics can be used to move your teeth to their correct position.

Be assured that relief for your pain is available. The solution may be relatively simple. On the other hand, the TMJ and its relationship to your teeth and muscles are very complex, and a long term solution could be complex and frustrating to treat. An examination is required to be able to give you the answers you want. And, based on what Dr. Nelson discovers, he will recommend the most conservative treatment that makes things better for you.

Please request your complimentary information packet or contact Dr. Nelson to arrange for a complimentary private consultation. Make your request today. If you are experiencing pain, let us know when you fill out the form and we will schedule your visit as soon as possible.

Read Dr. Nelson's blog entries about TMJ problems.

A diagram of the anatomy of the TMJ

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