Over 30 year of experience in Dentistry in NSW DR. Lisa Chong is highly qualified with handling TMJ patient. Her clinic in Hurlstone Park, NSW Sydney gets a number of TMJ Patient every day.
According to DR. Lisa, patient with TMD i.e. Temporomandibular Disorders (myelogenous and androgenous) shows the following Symptoms :
1. Masticatory muscle hypertrophy* (probably secondary to clenching, awake bruxism, the habit of tic)
2. Masticatory muscle discomfort due to fatigue (maybe with or without pain)
3. Pericranial muscle tenderness or pain (considered a morning headache in absence of sleep disorder breathing or neurological condition)
4. Stiff, tight mandible with reduced movement and/or difficulty with mastication of food upon awakening
5. Temporomandibular joint discomfort or pain
6. Sleep apnea
TMJ FAQ:
1. What qualifications have the TMJ dentist acquired?
2. Have they successfully treated patients with TMJ issues?
3. What options for TMJ treatment are there?
4. How to choose a TMJ dentist or TMJ specialist
Some dentist may work with other therapist and that is a good indication. As TMJ issues are complex and multidisciplinary approach is required to treat TMJ pain.
TMJ pain can be as simple as muscular pain, or joint pain or pain referred to the jaw from other areas.
TMJ pain can also include headaches, migraines, earache, ringing ears, tinnitus, non-specific pain.
Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia and trigger point pain can also be present in TMJ pain.
TMJ Treatment
Because TMJ pain can be diverse in diagnoses, getting the correct diagnoses is essential to lead to the path of treatment.
Sometimes, multiple issues can contribute to TMJ pain, a qualified TMJ dentist will look into your history, doing some test, X-RAYS to provide an initial diagnosis. If the pain continues, the TMJ dentist will look into other areas to investigate the issues involved.
It is not as simple as drilling a tooth and eliminating dental pain.
TMJ dentist will determine the likely cause of the problem to lead to solutions.
TMJ treatment can be as simple as Botox into the tight muscles. An occlusal splint or bite splint is required to provide some relief to keep the teeth apart whilst the jaw finds its equilibrium.
If there are issues with the bite and correction of the bite is required. Re-building of the teeth or as complex as full mouth rehabilitation with crowns and implants to replace missing teeth.
Or even orthodontic treatment if the bite cannot be corrected with the simple rebuilding of the teeth.
Sometimes, the issue is musculoskeletal, a Physiotherapist or Osteopath is essential in assisting the patients for postural problems.
If there is arthritis to the TMJ condyles, an oral surgeon might perform Condyle surgery as the joint has pathology or worn down.