Temporo Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder - Washington DC Metro Center Dentist - Dr. James E. Johnson DDS, & Associates P.C

Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder Treatment

Do you experience unexplained headache (“migraine”), facial pain, tenderness in the jaw muscles, ear pain, neck pain, swelling on the side of the face, limited jaw opening, jaws that get stuck or jaw clicking? You may be among the 10 million Americans affected with temporomandibular joint disorder
(Source: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/TMDTMJ/TmjDisorders.htm).

Dr. Johnson at James E. Johnson DDS, & Associates P.C. has been specifically focusing on the treatment of TMJ disorder for the last several years. Let us help you understand and find a solution to this problem.

The Temporo-Mandibular Joint or TMJ is the jaw joint. Every person will have two TMJs, one on either side. Pain or dysfunction of the TMJ is commonly referred to as Temporo-Mandibular Joint Disorder or TMJD.

Causes of TMJD

There are various causes for TMJD. Most common TMJD problems occur when the TMJ itself or the surrounding muscles are subject to intense or continuous stress. For example:

Malocclusion: This is a condition in which there is misalignment of the teeth or bite problem. The teeth of the upper and lower jaw do not line up correctly and it puts the muscles and the TMJ under stress, leading to TMJD.

Bruxism: This condition is characterized by teeth grinding, typically accompanied by teeth clenching. During teeth grinding, the teeth move over each other. This wears down the teeth, may cause malocclusion and increases the wear on the cartilage lining of the TMJ, leading to TMJD. Teeth clenching on the other hand, presses the upper and lower teeth together and puts stress on the facial muscles, tissues and jaw, again leading to TMJD.

Diagnosis of TMJD

TMJD can be tricky to diagnose, because the symptoms are not usually specific.

We can help you diagnose TMJD by:

Examination of teeth for signs of malocclusion (misalignment of teeth and/or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches)

Panoramic X-rays to check for structural problems

Physical examination of the TMJ and their movement

Treatment of TMJD

As with the cause of TMJD, the treatment options also vary and should be determined on a case-by-case situation. We at James E. Johnson DDS, & Associates P.C. can work with you to figure out the treatment option that best suits you.

The two major treatment options we offer for TMJD are:

Custom-made Mouth guard / Night guard devices

Bite alignment treatments

Custom-made Mouth guard / Night guard devices:

A mouth guard is protective wear that fits into the mouth and covers the teeth to prevent and reduce levels of injury to the teeth. We will make custom impressions of your teeth to make the most comfortable custom-fit mouth guards for you.
Mouth guards that are worn only at night are also referred to as night guards.

Bite alignment treatments:

Our bite alignment treatments include: