Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth or trouble opening your mouth wide.

Do You Have a TMJ Disorder?

• Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?
• Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?
• Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches?
• Does the pain get worse when you clench your teeth?
• Does stress make your clenching and pain worse?
• Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth?
• Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat or yawn?
• Have you ever injured your neck, head or jaws?
• Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints?
• Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?
• Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
• Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?
• Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken or worn?

The more times you answered "yes," the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.

Treatment

There are various treatment options that Dr. Stewart can utilize to improve the harmony and function of your jaw. No one treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely and treatment takes time to become effective. Dr. Stewart can help you have a healthier and more comfortable jaw. He will work closely with your dentist and/or pain specialist to establish the most appropriate treatment plan. It is important to note that treatment always works best with a team approach of self-care joined with professional care. Fortunatly, surgery is not commonly required.
 
A less invasive technique of arthrocentesis has become popular due to it’s effectiveness in dealing with many jaw joint disorders. This is an office based procedure, performed under light IV anesthesia. The jaw joint is washed out with a saline solution and antiinflammatory medications can be introduced into the joint to reduce pain and stiffness. No incision is made and the patient returns to work the next day.

In some cases, open joint surgery is required. This can range from a disc tie back type procedure to total joint reconstruction. Occasionally, the use of 3-dimensional medical modeling with a CT scan is used to make a custom prosthesis.

As with any surgical procedure, postoperative rehabilitation is the cornerstone to success in reestablishing a more acceptable range of motion and reducing joint pain. We work closely with physical therapists and your dentist to maximize your rehabilitation.