TMD/TMJ

TMJ disease may be the most misdiagnosed and misunderstood condition within the scope of services provided by Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons.

While we are the only surgical specialty to treat fractures, tumors or deformities of this joint, it is not uncommon for your PCP, ENT doctor or family dentist to diagnose you with this condition.

Less than one in one hundred patients that comes to my office as potential TMJ surgery patients has anything wrong with their temporal mandibular joints. At least 50 percent of asymptomatic population has an abnormal bite and/or some joint noise, with absolutely normal chewing function.

There is little scientific proof that changing the alignment of your teeth with braces, changing your bite with crowns, or realigning your jaws will correct problems associated with the TMJs.

The majority of patients that have been diagnosed with TMJ usually have some muscular condition that can be treated simply by stretching the muscles of mastication and regaining the lost range of motion (opening of the jaw).

The worst advice that you can give anyone with either TMJ or facial muscle pain is to, "not open wide". Range of motion and flexibility is an important component of any joint condition.

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