TMJ DISORDERS AND PATHOLOGY ARE THE MOST UNDIAGNOSED AND MISUNDERSTOOD AREAS OF DENTISTRY.
 
For example patients suffering from constant or frequent headaches (often referred to as migraines) are surprised to know that the reason for this illness is temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Seemingly unrelated symptoms such as earache, tinnitus (ear noises), and eye pain can arise from this disorder.
 

WHAT IS TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint that moves the lower jaw. It’s the most utilized joint in the body and one of the most important. The reasons for TMD can be local and systemic. The local reasons include loss of vertical height of the bite due to the loss of teeth, consequences of orthodontic tooth movement, and, most commonly, nighttime grinding or clenching of teeth, or bruxism. This condition is very common and only dentists can diagnose it at the early stages. The systemic causes include arthritis, systemic autoimmune diseases, etc.
 

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TMD?

There is a wide variety of TMD related symptoms. The most common are:
 
• Pain, soreness, difficulty to open the mouth, to talk, to chew, to drink
• Pain in front of the ears
• Ear pain, ear noises, and clogginess of the ears
• Pain in the eyes
• Joint noises
• Frequent or constant headaches, most commonly located in the temples, forehead, and the top of the head
• Unspecific pain.
 

TMJ DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose TMD, a thorough examination is needed. Additional methods are utilized, such as panoramic X-Ray, MRI, and bloodwork.
 

TMJ TREATMENT OPTIONS IN CLIFTON NJ

The conservative treatment consists of appliance therapy, physical therapy, electric stimulation, acupuncture, diet modification, etc. If conservative treatment is not sufficient, surgical procedures are available to help patients. Dr. Doktorman specializes in looking at all the treatment options for TMJ disorders in Clifton, NJ and helping to come up with the right solution for you.
 
If you have any of these symptoms we urge you to schedule a TMD examination and explore the treatment options available to help you.