Diagnosing TMJ
Assisting patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) is one of Dr. Regni’s areas of practice, and in many cases he can relieve pressure, headaches and jaw pain that does not respond to other types of treatment.
Dr. Regni believes that usually a multitude of factors causes TMJD. The astute diagnostician will analyze all possibilities carefully before creating a cause and effect scenario. Then and only then can treatment begin.
Most of the causes have created changes in the orthopedic relationship in the joint(s). These imbalances and misalignments cause stresses on the joint apparatus, leading to breakdown and pain. It is important to realize that there could be damage to the joint system, long before pain appears. The pain mechanism is not always from the acute situation. Repetitive damage will ultimately lead to pain, in most cases, but not all.
Some of the causes of TMJD include:
1. Whiplash from a traumatic event, such as an auto accident or fall
2. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis
3. Chronic long term tooth clenching or grinding
4. Structural discrepancies in the skeleton leading to postural difficulties
5. Missing posterior teeth
6. Biting on paper clips, fingernails, pencils, pens, etc. (This is referred to as chronic “micro trauma” )
7. Head posture, such as sitting in front of a computer screen for long periods
8. Osteochondrosys.
9. Heredity
10. Parasites and microbes.
11. Nutritional deficiencies.
After thoroughly diagnosing your situation, Dr. Regni will put together a treatment plan that is designed to handle the cause of your TMJD as well as the symptoms that you are experiencing.
Treatment options – a biological approach
The primary efforts in treating TMJ are to relieve the compression that the misallignment of the jaw is causing to vertebrae. Dr. Regni will treat the exact situation that each patient with TMJ presents. Treatment plans at our office can include:
- A recommended change in diet, to eliminate causes such as microbes and parasites;
- Anti-biotics directly into the joints to eliminate bacteria and inflamation,
- Use of a bite guard at night to open the mouth and prevent further teeth grinding;
- Nutritional supplements, if needed, to aid you in maintaining proper jaw positioning and remove toxins;
- Orthopedic appliances to realign the joint;
- Evening out the bite to end grinding.
Dr. Regni will examine your situation thoroughly, and determine the best treatment plan for you. His patients agree that he has 100% results in correctly treating TMJ disorders.
What are the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorder?
- Sore jaw muscles and joints especially right after waking up in the morning.
- Clicking and/or popping sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth.
- Chewing surfaces are flat and/or worn down through the tooth enamel. This exposes the second, soft and yellow layer of the tooth.
- Incisal edges of teeth are worn and sensitive to cold or tooth brushing.
- Loose or broken teeth, crowns or bridges
for no particularly obvious reason.
- Generalized feeling of tooth pain.
- Grinding, clenching or bruxing.
