Jacob I. Ihle D.D.S
Call Today! 218-739-3245
TMJ/TMD Care & Treatment
The term "TMJ" refers to the temporomandibular joints, located on either end of our lower jaw in the area in front of our ears. TMJ disorders describe a variety of conditions affecting the chewing system, including the teeth, jaw muscles, jaw joint, jaw bone, and gum tissue.
Symptoms
TMJ disorders can result in a wide variety of symptoms, including head, neck or shoulder aches, facial and tooth pain and discomfort, jaws that get stuck or locked, and popping, clicking, or grinding sounds in your jaw and ears.
Treatments
Splint Therapy
People who have had a traumatic injury to the head and neck may also damage the jaw joints. Some people clench and grind their teeth until the jaw joints and muscles are overworked and are painful. Other people who have experienced extreme wear to their teeth or who may have had extensive restoration of their mouths often need to protect their teeth from further or future breakdown.
For each of these examples, we use an intraoral appliance called a splint, which is much like a mouth guard. Patients wear it at night, and when made and adjusted properly, it will allow traumatized muscles and joints to heal and de-stress, minimizing the chances of further damage.
Resources
Bite & Jaw Alignment
Occlusal equilibration is a term used to describe the process of adjusting the way your upper and lower teeth bite together. Altering the chewing surfaces of some or all of a person's teeth allows the jaw joints to be in the proper anatomical location when the teeth are fitting together. During treatment, the biting surfaces of the teeth are meticulously altered in shape to meet predetermined criteria of an ideal occlusion (bite). The objective is harmony between the tooth contacts, chewing muscles and the temporomandibular joints to prevent any further damage or breakdown of tissues.
Patients who receive this treatment often notice their teeth hit more evenly and their bite feels more solid than it ever did before. Eating, speaking, and smiling become enjoyable again when your bite is aligned.
Case Study
Many missing teeth, decay, and misalignment of teeth. Orthodontic treatment, whitening, porcelain crowns, and bridges and a partial denture were necessary to give the combination of comfort, function, longevity, and esthetics desired.
Prevention
Prevention of trauma to the jaw joints, chewing muscles and teeth is a good idea whenever possible. One of the most effective methods of preventing oral injuries is to use a mouthguard when playing sports, especially the more contact common ones like basketball, hockey, football, and even baseball/softball. We do make the same kind of custom vacuum-formed mouthguards used by elite athletes here in our office.
Another successful strategy for preventing jaw joint issues is to be aware of what you are doing with your jaws, teeth, and muscles during your waking hours. Habit awareness is very effective in helping people cease clenching and grinding their teeth in reaction to the stress of everyday life.
Jacob I. Ihle D.D.S.
1409 College Way | Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Phone: 218-739-3245 | Fax: 218-739-5626
Email: frontdesk@ottertaildental.com
Copyright © Otter Tail Dental. All Rights Reserved.
Website designed and hosted by Lakes Area Web Services.
