TMD Symptoms & Diagnosis
Neuromuscular Dentistry Directory
MD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is a chronic degenerative disease. People who suffer from TMD have a misalignment in the jaw joint, which is referred to by neuromuscular dentists as a bad bite, or malocclusion.
TMD Symptoms
When you have a bad bite, TMD symptoms develop. The particular combination of symptoms and their relative strengths are unique to each person. The most common symptoms are:- Pain in the jaw joint or surrounding areas
- Clicking or "popping" sounds from the jaw joint
- Limited movement or locking of the jaw
- Tingling or numbness in fingers or arms
- An uncomfortable bite
- Headaches (often felt as migraines)
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Swelling of the jaw
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Loose teeth
- Ringing in the ears
- Teeth grinding
- Difficulty swallowing
TMD can be difficult to diagnose because some symptoms mimic those of some other conditions. Neuromuscular dentists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat TMD symptoms.
TMD Diagnosis
A neuromuscular dentist will perform a complete evaluation, beyond any typical dental examination. It will include a detailed medical history and physical examination of your face, head, neck and jaw areas.
Using a K7 system, the neuromuscular dentist will test your jaw movements. The goal of treatment will be to get the jaw positioned correctly, thus removing the conditions causing those painful symptoms. Therefore the current wrong jaw position must be recorded as a starting point for treatment.
The K7 Evaluation System was created by Myotronics-Noromed, Inc., a Seattle-based company founded in 1966. It allows a neuromuscular dentist to track and record:
- Jaw movement
- Jaw muscle activity
- Jaw joint sounds
You would wear different headgear for each of these tests, connecting you to the K7 unit and its computer. All are comfortable to wear. This data can be printed out as colored graphs and the system includes software that produces printed explanations for you, the patient.
Another tools used in diagnosing TMD and also in treating it is the TENS unit. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and this small battery-powered unit gives mild electrical stimulation to the muscles in question. Electrodes are strategically placed on the head, neck and shoulders, and while you doze off or listen to music, the chronically tense muscles gradually relax, perhaps for the first time in many years.
Now that the jaw is relaxed, its position is measured and recorded and used as a goal of treatment.
If you are suffering from any TMD symptoms, call an experienced neuromuscular dentist today to schedule a consultation.
