What Most People (Including Dentists) Get Wrong about TMJ
We all know that brushing and flossing are important for dental health, but TMJ issues are a blindspot for many. Unfortunately, this includes dentists. While most dentists are highly skilled in taking care of dental hygiene, fillings, and root canals, it takes an expert to tackle more specialized treatments for jaw alignment.
Dr. Nora Balota has treated patients with TMJ issues, and her doctorate in dental surgery enables her to diagnose dental issues with a more holistic understanding. With her unique expertise, she enjoys educating her patients on the underlying causes of their health problems. Here are three misunderstandings she commonly sees, along with a better way to approach dental health.
TMJ Is Not a Disease
From the start, let’s clarify terms. A lot of people hear clicking in their jaw and say, “I think I have TMJ.” What they don’t realize is that everyone has TMJ, since it is an essential part of our anatomy. TMJ is an acronym that stands for Temporomandibular Joint (you can see why we use an acronym!), which is the joint that connects either side of your jawbone to your skull. We all have it.
When most people talk about TMJ, what they really mean is TMD—or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Essentially, the joints that connect jaw to skull are not functioning properly. This is what dentists might call an occlusal dysfunction, or occlusal disease.
Dental Health Goes Beyond the Mouth
When we talk about the benefits of dental health, most people only think about their teeth. And yet, symptoms that surface in other parts of the body can be addressed by a good dentist. Headaches, neck aches, gum recession, tinnitus, and even sleep apnea are often signs of TMD. The body is all connected, so a problem with your TMJ can spread to other systems and manifest in various ways.
Teeth are proprioceptive, which means that they are meant to touch. When your jaw is aligned so that your teeth all make contact with each other at the same time, your jaw muscles are able to relax—which in turn eases other aches and pains. If you’re on a quest to get healthy, you can’t neglect dental health. Jaw alignment is essential to a healthy body.
Quick Fixes Are Insufficient
So many times we suggest temporary fixes that neglect the underlying problems. For example, many of our patients have been told that their enamel is wearing down because they brush too hard. But enamel is the strongest thing in your body: it shouldn’t wear more than 1 mm in 300 years. We are highly suspicious when we notice lost enamel, especially if only some of a person’s teeth are affected.
Another thing we see in our patients is crowns on molars. Of course, if your molars are cracked, a crown is a necessary treatment. But that solution will be short-lived if underlying causes are not treated. Mouth guards are another temporary measure that many patients wear. However, store-bought mouth guards are designed improperly and often lead to worse jaw pain.
Different brushing techniques, crowns, and mouth guards may all be helpful in the short-term, but if you have TMD, these fixes do nothing for your long-term health. Often, when our patients have various health symptoms, we discover that the jaw is not where it should be. The teeth are trying to connect, and they’re pulling the jaw from its socket and creating a teeter-totter that throws off their dental health.
When you visit Balota Family Dentistry, you will receive holistic treatment that addresses the root of your dental problems. Instead of temporary fixes that will have to be revisited a couple years down the road, we assess your needs and offer solutions that will last a lifetime.
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