A TMJ specialist diagnoses and treats Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), focusing on joint function and its relationship to dental problems and body pain. They conduct diagnostic tests and develop treatment plans, which may include dental procedures, orthoses, and muscle manipulation. Their job involves multidisciplinary education and listening to patients’ medical and dental history.
A TMJ specialist focuses on diagnosing and treating Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), often termed TMJ for the temporomandibular joint itself. Many dentists receive training in TMJ disorders, and some physicians who work in the treatment of head, neck and facial pain take similar courses, but a TMJ specialist usually focuses on joint function and its relationship to dental problems and body pain. related. Training for a specialist usually includes general and neuromuscular dentistry, treatment of orofacial and maxillofacial pain, and orthodontic and restorative techniques.
Conducting diagnostic tests and talking to patients about their symptoms is a big part of a TMJ specialist’s job. Often, those suffering from TMJ disorders have headaches and back pain or radiating leg pain with numbness of the fingers and toes. Some have problems starting in the mouth, with teeth grinding, broken teeth, or chronic jaw pain. Isolating the symptoms leads to finding problems with the teeth and the biting of the jaw itself, which may or may not be the actual TMJ dysfunction; it could be a dental problem, such as a dental crown that is too high in the mouth and throwing out the bite.
Likewise, body aches often drive individuals to the doctor or chiropractor before the dentist, and in many cases, a lengthy process of elimination helps identify jaw dysfunction. Typically, a TMJ specialist knows what to look for and can narrow down the problem through imaging, questions and answers. Taking measurements around the face and jaw helps isolate problem areas and leads to clues in defining a treatment plan.
After a definitive diagnosis, a TMJ specialist can begin treatment aimed at relieving pain and correcting jaw dysfunction. Some specialists work with both general and cosmetic dental procedures to build and level the teeth, which can help improve the positioning of the jaw itself during wear. Others combine orthodontic splints and other corrective orthoses, allowing the jaw joints to return to correct positioning. In many cases, a patient’s jaw joints will spasm, with the muscles clenched and tight from overuse and poor positioning, and the TMJ specialist will physically manipulate the muscles with massage, needle injections, electrical stimulation therapy of the nerve or a combination of some or all of these techniques.
Being a TMJ specialist involves multidisciplinary education as well as considerable skills in listening to a patient and recording details of medical and dental history. Although the temporomandibular joint itself seems like a tiny and isolated part of the overall functioning of the jaw, its misalignment can cause problems throughout the body from head to toe. A TMJ specialist’s job is to be detective, counselor, and cosmetic builder to isolate and bring correction to what, for many, is a real pain in the neck.
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