FACTS and MYTHS of TMJ and its treatment options
Recently, a national CBS news story featured horror stories associated with surgical treatments for TMJ – a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the facial muscles around the joint and send frustrated patients desperately seeking relief. Sadly, this extremely biased coverage featured interviews with patients who had undergone various surgeries for TMJ, with surgical approaches that ranged from dangerous to barbaric. In all interview scenarios, the patients were permanently damaged and disfigured - and no TMJ relief was gained. Luckily, this is not the reality when it comes to proper TMJ treatments.
Surgery is almost never advisable for TMJ treatment, much less the invasive surgeries that were portrayed in that biased news story. The message that surgery is the “only” option and that TMJ treatment is unpredictable and unsuccessful is completely false. Non-surgical treatment options such as oral appliances, muscle relaxation techniques, and physical therapy are all proven approaches in alleviating TMJ symptoms and the pain they cause. We have provided TMJ treatment to more than 2,000 patients in my dental career – both in our Rochester dental practice and through the Michigan Center for TMJ and Sleep Wellness. Many patients travel from other states and countries to seek out our expertise in treating TMJ and Sleep Disorders.
We are one of the only practices in Michigan to offer a comprehensive approach to treat the myriad symptoms of TMJ. We utilize computerized jaw tracking, muscle relaxation techniques, and laser therapy to treat TMJ disorders. When a person’s bite is not in proper alignment and balance with the muscles and joints, a TMJ disorder can occur. This can happen early on in life or, more commonly, as individuals age and their teeth and bite start to change or wear down. TMJ can also be triggered or aggravated by a traumatic event such as a car accident.
TMJ is a complex condition that has its treatment roots in dentistry, even though symptoms such as ear-ringing and ear congestion, headaches and migraines, jaw-clicking, neck pain and interrupted sleep often have patients turning to a variety of other health providers first before finding relief with dental therapies. We have had patients referred from ENT physicians, primary care physicians, neurologists, dentists, physical therapists, and even chiropractors.
Please do your research when seeking out treatment for a TMJ disorder. Here are some of the facts and myths of TMJ to help serve as a patient guide:
· FACT: Successful TMJ treatment options rarely include surgery. Patients told they need surgery for TMJ conditions should seek a second or third opinion from a dentist who practices neuromuscular dentistry, which provides the foundation for comprehensive TMJ treatment and focuses not only on teeth but jaw positioning, jaw muscles and even posture. It does not include cutting into the jawbone as a treatment option.
· FACT: While neuromuscular dentistry has been around for more than 50 years, it’s still not part of the curriculum of some dental schools, requiring dentists to obtain ongoing additional training through continuing medical education on their own.
· FACT: 90% of all TMJ symptoms are muscular in origin. Despite arthritis of the joints, bony changes, or radiographic evidence of remodeling of the joints, with a proper muscular approach, patients will get the relief they are looking for.
· MYTH: TMJ conditions mainly impact women. While there is some debate as to whether testosterone blocks some TMJ pain in men, while estrogen exacerbates it in women, there are no formal studies confirming that TMJ tends to be a female condition, nor has he seen an overwhelming number of women versus men in his practice – although he admits men may wait longer to receive treatment.
· MYTH: A dentist (or physician) can diagnose TMJ by X-rays and a patient’s explanation of symptoms. Dentists who regularly treat TMJ patients have specialized equipment, such as computer diagnostics, to evaluate a patient’s condition and determine if the issue is TMJ-related. Our offices use computerized jaw tracking equipment and FDA approved dental TENS technology to determine a patient’s optimal bite.
· MYTH: Your jaw must hurt or have “clicking or popping” noises in the joint. This is extremely untrue. The majority of TMJ patients who are suffering from headaches, migraines, ear symptoms like ear pain or tinnitus (ringing), or neck pain have NO jaw symptoms or noise in their joints.
· MYTH: You must learn to live with the pain from TMJ. NO! There are predictable and successful treatment options for you to give you back your life without daily pain and discomfort.
Most patients find almost immediate help with accepted TMJ treatment plans, while others take longer to find sustained relief. Pain medication is a temporary fix, not an answer; nor is the poor advice of some medical professionals to eat soft foods for the rest of your life. It’s important for patients to know that TMJ is treatable when treatment is offered from an experienced dental provider with extensive TMJ expertise. For most patients, there’s no reason they must continue struggling with pain related to TMJ symptoms. We are in an era of dental treatment where a variety of technology and non-surgical therapeutic approaches can truly help dentists educated in advanced dentistry and TMJ treatment bring relief and renewed quality of life to our patients. If you are suffering, it is time for you to get the relief you deserve.