Cure?

Is there a cure for TMJ?

Dr. Slota: TMJ is treatable. It can resolve on its own.  Yes, we cure most TMJ issues!  Finding the proper jaw alignment eliminates the symptoms.  Orthodontics, partials, full mouth rehabilitation or a combination these treatments will definitively treat your TMJ.

Chirpractors and TMJ

"Can a going to chiropractor help with TMJ?"

Dr. Slota: TMJ symptoms can be helped by chiropractic care, however definitive treatment of the condition is best treated by the well trained dentist.

Stress and TMJ

"They say that tmj is caused by stress. How much of the problem is stress related and how much is just anatomical?"

Dr. Slota: If you think of your automobile when it is out of alignment the front end will vibrate or you will wear your tires out. This would be a structural (anatomical) problem with your car. The speed or motion (emotion) of the car will determine how severe the tire wear and vibration of your car will be. If the alignment (anatomical) of your car is correct it will make no difference what the speed (motion or emotion) of the car is. Relating this to TMJ you can see how the anatomical part is more important than the emotional aspect.

Symptoms of TMJ

"What are the symptoms of TMJ?"

Dr. Slota: People diagnosed with TMJ may be experiencing other symptoms and medical conditions as part of broader multi-systems illnesses that go unrecognized. Patients with TMJ are most often diagnosed and treated primarily by dentists or oral surgeons, while another medical professional may be treating them for other conditions, such as allergies, headaches, fibromyalgia, cardiac arrhythmias, sleep disorders, movement disorders, tinnitus and irritable bowel syndrome, each treating one of the constellation of conditions without considering the body as a collection of interrelated systems.

Being unable to open the mouth comfortably
Clicking, popping or grating sounds in the jaw joint
Locking of the jaw when attempting to open the mouth
Headaches
A bite that feels uncomfortable or "off"
Neck, shoulder and back pain Swelling on the side of the face
Additional symptoms may include: ringing in the ears, ear pain, decreased hearing, dizziness and vision problems.

TMJ Dentist

"What is TMJ?"

Dr. Slota: Temporomandibular joint diseases and disorders (TMD), commonly called TMJ, are a collection of conditions characterized by jaw and facial pain and limitations in jaw movements. Injury and conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body,  such as arthritis, may affect the temporomandibular joint.