TMJ Treatment
We specialize in treating TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. Did you know that many chronic headache, ear, neck and back problems are actually caused by TMJ syndrome? TMJ syndrome results from the malocclusion of the teeth or jaws.
Read Dr. Hurme’s TMJ introduction! Be sure to check out our new patient testimonials and case histories!
We offer non-surgical treatment that is covered by many medical insurance programs. Click here to view our TMJ treatment plan. Please call our office for a free consultation if you suffer from any of these symptoms -
- headache
- dizziness
- earaches
- eye pain
- cracked tooth syndrome
- Meniere's disease
- ringing in the ears
TMJ Disorder
Until recently, many symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, earaches, conductive hearing loss, sinus problems, face, head, eye, ear, neck, shoulder, and back pain have been misdiagnosed. It is now known that Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder accounts for a large number of these previously uncured and painful ailments. These types of pain are in fact symptoms of the syndrome, and correcting the problem rather than the symptoms is at the heart of the TMJ treatment. Click here for a list of symptoms that a patient gave Dr. Hurme, and after 6 months of TMJ treatment the symptoms were gone!
Malocclusion and the TMJ
Your jaw joint, or TMJ, holds your lower jaw in place and is suspended beneath your skull by an intricate, complex system of muscles and tendons. The way your teeth fit together, called occlusion, your TM joint, and surrounding muscles are closely interrelated and affect each other during your everyday activities such as speaking, chewing, and swallowing. When your teeth do not fit together properly, a condition known as malocclusion, the jaw automatically shifts to a new position to compensate for the malocclusion, causing stress in and around the jaw joint and muscles. Symptoms of misaligned teeth may be clenching, grinding, sensitive teeth, fractured teeth, premature tooth wear, and stress on the muscles and tendons, some of which may occur during sleep. Results of these symptoms are headaches, muscular aches, pain in the face, neck, shoulders and back, dizziness, nausea, earaches, ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, and many other symptoms.
Diagnosing the Problem
Before prescribing the proper treatment for your particular problem, a variety of diagnostic procedures are necessary. X-rays will be taken of your jaw joint to provide a clear picture of your own TMJ anatomy and the position of various structures within the jaw joint. In order to study the relationship of the patient's teeth and joints, diagnostic models are cast and precise measurements are taken to determine the position of your temporomandibular joint and help diagnose the proper treatment.
TMJ Treatment
Occlusal guards, or mouth guards, are worn at night to temporarily relieve pressure on the TMJ and to give relief to overworked muscles. Occlusal guards do not correct the position of the jaw, they merely keep the mouth slightly open to relieve pain and prevent the condition from worsening by lessening grinding forces. If you are not quite ready for full TMJ treatment, you can buy some time (1-2 years) by wearing only occlusal guards.
TMJ treatment requires a detailed diagnostic workup. The aim of TMJ treatment is to correct dislocation of the jaw and return it to its correct position in the middle of the jaw joint. To do this, upper and lower arches need to be adjusted to achieve the “horseshoe” form and usually additional treatment is needed to reposition the lower jaw down and forward. All of this will be accomplished with a series of Functional Jaw Orthopedic Appliances such as Sagittals, Schwartz Expanders, Twin Blocks, and Bionators. The length of time required to wear each appliance depends on the individual case. The most common length of treatment is 2 years.
Early Treatment is Important
The importance of early treatment can not be overstated. TMJ problems can advance in stages and grow progressively worse. Thus, a minor problem now could become a major source of pain in the future. Additionally, chances of successful treatment increase substantially the earlier treatment is accomplished.
If you are interested in receiving TMJ treatment, please call our office to set up an appointment.
For more information on TMJ Disorder and treatment, please check out the following books on TMJ that Dr. Hurme recommends:
Your Jaws Your Life, by David C. Page, D.D.S. Smile Page Publishing.
This is available directly from the publisher:
SmilePage Publishing
P.O. Box 20300
Baltimore, MD 21284
Phone (410) 296-7224, Fax (888) 865-JAWS
Web www.SmilePage.comKilling Pain Without Prescription, by Harold Gelb, D.M.D. Harper & Row Publishers.
Taking Control of TMJ, by Robert O. Uppgaard, D.D.S. Publishers Group West.
These are available from:
EOP, Inc.
801 Transfer Road
St. Paul, MN 55114
(800) 328-8021
