What occurs in TMD is the articular disc that sits on the condyle (the cartilage that sits on top of the jawbone) has slipped off and is now pinching nerves and blood vessels in that region. Think of it like this: your doctor tells you that you have a disc slipped in your lower back. You then understand why the back and legs hurt and understand why there is numbness in that area. When the articular disc slips off the condyle, it can actually displace not in just one direction, but it can be a double displacement (in two directions) and since there are two TMJs in the skull, such displacement can hurt terribly and cause tremendous inflammation.

Sometimes the warning signs are there: popping/clicking of the jaw joints, head/neck pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo, and even tremors. These warning signs can occur at all ages and can lead to other health complications as well. Frequently, young children report ear problems but not the pain, clicking and popping, teeth grinding and clenching and headaches. Typically, the ear is treated and or the ears are irrigated.  If this persists the source of the problem is likely a slipped disc in the jaw joint. That slipped disc can actually push the condyle backward and into the area of the ear canal causing the “clogged feeling”. This is actually quite common.

Another very important facet of TMD is how the slipped discs cause either outright pain or even a low-grade irritation/ inflammation that prevents us from getting good sleep. Too many people just get used to the discomfort and learn to live with it. This lack of good sleep correlates to cardiovascular problems, diabetes and cancer. The human body requires good quality sleep in order to allow the cells to rejuvenate and for the body to heal from injury. So, if you are not sleeping all that well, it may just be a TMJ problem that should be analyzed. Part of that analysis includes looking at your Vitamin D-3 levels, because without proper D-3, there is no way to sleep well (but that is a whole other discussion).

So, whether you are young, old, or in between, it is really important to know a little about TMJ disorder and how it affects your wellbeing. The earlier in life that we recognize the problem, the easier it is solved. For your good health, reduce high stress or anxiety in your life, deal with the signs presented, and pass the word on.

The post The Case Of How TMD Can Affect Both Kids And Adults Or Why Should I Know About Such Things? first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.

Did you know that a gorgeous smile with great teeth and well-supported Temporomandibular joints also means less neck pain?  It’s so true! Time and time again it has been shown that losing a tooth means that the structural integrity of the cervical spine is compromised. This is why it is not advisable to remove any teeth unless completely necessary. In so many cases, it is necessary to remove the patient’s wisdom teeth.  For this reason, many people would benefit from wearing the ALF appliances to maintain support of the bones of the skull during the healing process. When wisdom teeth are removed, the research indicates there will be about 16 square centimeters of holes in the skull and the bone has a tendency to collapse from this. The ALF appliance will help to support the bones of the skull and more readily allow the bone to fill into the holes created by the extractions, without causing a collapsing effect.

In the past, it was much more commonplace to have all your teeth pulled out and have dentures made. The problem with the denture route is that most of the time the dentist’s lab uses a type of plastic material and the dentures have a tendency to wear down quite quickly. What happens next is the top of the jaw – the condyle – will more readily jam into the socket and we have more TMD problems. This is why it is good to avoid dentures and go the implant route.

When a person has implants done, it would be wise to get the implant crowns to the proper height. This would require working with someone like a TMJ specialist who understands that the condyles must be in the right place to protect the joints from degeneration. By paying attention to the vertical height of the implant crowns, this will allow the patient to feel better with their brand-new smile!

Another facet of dealing with a gorgeous smile is that a great smile looks better if the bones in your skull are more balanced and symmetrical. When you think about it, it kind of makes sense. If your cranial bones are level, the body is happier and looks better. Again, this is what the ALF wire is all about – symmetry and balance – and this creates a more beautiful appearance too.

So, make sure that beautiful smile translates into a beautiful and healthy YOU!

The post The Case of Why We Need a Gorgeous Smile (From a TMJ Perspective) first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.

In the world of dealing with craniofacial and TMJ disorders, it is critical to look at any asymmetries or irregularities that might exist within a person’s skull. This can be as simple as just visually sitting down in front of that patient and looking at them from a critical viewpoint, or as detailed as taking X-rays from all angles and making photographs part of the assessment as well.

When a patient is examined initially by the doctor, they need to look at their face, their posture, their neck, and shoulders as well. Here is the first part of proper treatment planning for any orthodontic or craniofacial pain case. Are the eyes even? Are the ears level? Is the sclera more evident on one side or the other? How does the jaw open – does it open straight or does it swerve to one side upon opening and closing?

Although this extremely basic analysis seems mundane, it is quite useful in determining the outcome of a case. For example, if the eyes are not even or level, then the sphenoid bone is not level, which leads to imbalances in the jaw bones (condyles) and so moving teeth might make this imbalance worse and cause pain. If the ears are not even, then it is highly likely that the glenoid fossas (jawbone sockets) are not level and performing orthodontics on this patient could end up pushing the condyles deeper into the disc on one side or the other. creating head and neck pain. The analogy is this: If the front-end alignment is off with your car, there really is no point in putting two new tires on the front of the car. So, if the teeth are moved around by orthodontic treatment and the skull is not in good alignment, then further distortion can occur which will lead to pain in the head and neck. From the diagram, distortions from the cranium can affect the shoulders, hips and through to the feet.

To do the best orthodontics possible, it is important to have the dentist understand craniofacial asymmetry and what to do about it. Most regular dentists are trained to use the RPE (Rapid Palatal Expander), however, this device will not level bones that are not in good alignment to begin with. The RPE will just widen what is already there and widen the asymmetry which is detrimental to the patient’s overall health.

There is a particularly useful device called the ALF (Advanced Lightwire Functional) that will nicely align the cranial bones given enough time and patience. Unfortunately, there are only a few dental practitioners out there who have the training and understanding of how the device works. It is NOT a palatal expander, not at all. It is a quite simple device that levels the bones within the skull, achieving balance and stability. Another analogy: it opens the vise grip on a person’s skull so the bones can settle in more balanced. It’s as simple as that! If you have any questions for our team or to schedule an appointment, we welcome you to give us a call at 703-821-1103 today!

The post Why Should We Look at Facial Asymmetry? first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.