TMJ Treatment | TMJ Problems

According to the American Dental Association, more than fifteen percent of American adults suffer from TMJ Problems or chronic facial pain. We have found that 50% of our patients exhibit some signs or symptoms of TMD. TMJ treatment is often as simple as a bite adjustment or wearing a night guard. Common symptoms include headaches, cold sensitive teeth, pain in or around the ear, tenderness of the jaw, and clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth. These symptoms are commonly referred to as TMJ, or more accurately as temporal mandibular joint dysfunction.

COMMON JAW JOINT TMJ SYMPTOMS:

  • Facial Pain
  • Inability to Bite All the Way Down
  • Uncomfortable Bite
  • Changing Bite
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Gum Recession

CAUSES OF TMJ PROBLEMS

There are many causes of TMJ disorders. A traumatic injury to the chin, jaw, or TM joint itself can stretch or tear the ligaments supporting the joint. Missing back teeth and/or poor alignment of the jaws or of the teeth wisdom teeth, bruxism (night teeth grinding), chronic clenching, arthritis, stressful situations, or poor dental treatment that does not respect how the teeth come together. There are other minor behavioral causes such as nail biting and ice chewing.

Many sufferers of these symptoms have found relief with treatment offered by Dr. Fondriest. It is our goal to achieve maximum improvement with comfort and normal function, while using the least invasive and conservative treatment possible. this may mean something simple such as managing or treating the bruxism with a night guard.

For some patients, the ideal can be achieved, while for others, depending on the nature and stage of the illness, effective management is the maximum goal. Depending on the nature and severity of an individual patient’s condition, the appropriate therapy is determined. For some, a mouth guard designed to relax muscles and reduce inflammation is used. For others, more comprehensive diagnostics and dental restorations are needed.

Dr. Fondriest has had extensive training in TMJ therapy at the world renowned L. D. Pankey Institute (www.pankey.org) in Key Biscayne, Florida, where he now works as a senior faculty member. The Pankey Institute specializes in the study of occlusion (bite) and treatment of TMJ disorders, and is considered by many to be the world’s leader in research and treatment of TMJ disorders.

We  proudly serve residents of the Chicago Metro area.