Other common symptoms are:

Dizziness; ringing and stuffiness in the ears, pressure in front of the ears; clicking,
popping, or grinding noises in the jaw joints; jaw joint locking or stiffness;
inability to open or close the mouth fully; pain coming from behind or above
the eyes, pain while chewing or speaking; and tight or sore throat or difficulty
swallowing.

A complete TMJ examination would include:

   A thorough medical/dental history,
   Very specific x-rays of the jaw bone and jaw joints,
   An examination of the jaw muscles,
   And other studies that might be needed in individual cases can be
      done in our office.

The most commonly recognized causes of TMJ disorders are various
kinds of trauma. Motor vehicle accidents in which the victim is violently
wrenched about or strikes the steering wheel or a car window are the
single most common cause of TMJ injuries. A blow to the head in
sports injuries or falls, missing teeth that are not replaced, crooked
teeth or an improper bite(malocclustion), old or ill fitting dentures,
poor posture, cradling a phone between the shoulder and the ear,
and playing certain musical instruments are other common causes.

The specific treatment varies for different patients because the teeth,
muscles, bone, and jaw joints can all be involved in differing degrees
in different patients. Most cases can be managed non-surgically and
conservatively with a variation of a stabilization prosthesis appliance
that fits snugly on the lower teeth. These appliances are fabricated of
clear acrylic resin similar to the material used for lenses in eyeglasses
and must be worn 24 hours a day, especially while eating.

Some cases in which there is a strong muscle component may need
physical therapy measures such as muscle exercise, heat and ultrasound
therapy, massage and even acupuncture treatments. These can be
arranged through your referring health care provider. Sometimes it
will be necessary to prescribe medications to help you during the
initial healing phase of treatment to manage pain and muscle tightness.

Once the symptoms are alleviated, and the joint and muscle pain
managed, I can prescribe the second phase of treatment such as
crown and bridge treatment, orthodontics, or various kinds of
overlay bite appliances to maintain a comfortable jaw position. It
is often necessary to wear night time appliances to help prevent
pressure on the jaws while sleeping.

Mark W. Bartosh, D.D.S.
Management of TMJ Disorders
1011 Augusta Dr., Suite 208
Houston, Tx. 77057
713-780-3427

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