TMJD in not dental or a bite problem, although there may be dentition consequences. This is about TMJ joint function, i.e. bilaterally hinged joints that are designed to operate smoothly and evenly on both sides. The TMJ joint has nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, TMJ joint disc, several muscles attachments. To have a pain free TMJ joint they all must have normal function.
Treatment of TMJ disorders in the past forty six years that I have been practicing. I have seen tremendous progress in the understanding of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. Billions of dollars are spent annually for many doctors, clinic, hospital, or therapist visits. Pain sufferers will do and pay anything for some hope of relief. In the past, the majority of TMJ problems were thought to be caused by bad bites, but today there’s much greater understanding on the TMJ. Doctors either don’t understand or believe patients, and many times their family members and the learned doctors can find no explanation for the patients pain. They conclude it is stress or in the patient's head.
Have you heard these excuses before? If you are a typical TMJ sufferer, you probably have. The doctors must rely on what they have been taught, and what they have not been taught how to correctly diagnose a TMJ dysfunction. The patient suffering with the TMJ pain feels abandoned, left along with out any hope of relief, and patients are brought to the brink of suicide. Truly patients with TMJ dysfunction have no quality of everyday life due to the horrible TMJ pain, headaches. Patients today want a say in their care and treatment of their TMJ. Patients want to be educated and want to understand their problems, and they want to know the alternative treatments and have a say in what their treatment is all about.
All the progress in scientific understanding about TMJ disorders has been written up in journals and textbooks for physicians and dentists. This information now needs to be delivered to the TMJ patient. I have found in my practice of treatment of TMJ dysfunction that when I translate and break all the scientific and technical language and translated it into simple form the patients can understand, they have been able to grasp that knowledge and use it to help in the treatment and management of their TMJ problems.
There are numerous books, magazines and TV, that have discussed the TMJ symptoms, but what the TMJ patient needs is a corrective form of treatment that is effective and not costly forbidden that works.
TMJ patients suffer with headaches, facial, neck, jaw pain, jaw clicking, ear pain, pain of the shoulders, and many visual dysfunction. The research journals report that 35% to 50% of the population is affected by TMJ dysfunction. I am happy to report we have had excellent results treating our TMJ patients.
The reason the TMJ joint is painful is due to the fact the TMJ joint is dislocated to some degree. This may be caused by injury to many of the associated TMJ structures (joint, disc, muscles, nerves, ligaments, blood vessels) account for a very high percentage of pain in the head. If the TMJ patients have seen, as most of these unfortunate patients do, physicians, nerurologists, otoaryngologists, (ENT) or even psychologists, physical therapists, Chiropractic physicians, and no definite diagnosis has been made and no effective treatment, then chances are you may be suffering from TMJ problem.
If you or someone you know suffers radiating pain in face, neck and shoulders, locking or limited movement of the jaw, grinding, grating or pain when opening or closing the mouth, or a significant change or positioning problem with the upper or lower teeth fit together, then Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction or TMJD may be something you should discuss or have an examination of your TMJ.
The National Institute of Health agrees that there is no set standards used to diagnose the condition. This is another important reason why the person should go a doctor who has treated the TMJ conditions for years.
Common causes to TMJD include: small but repetitive trauma or movements; longer and more specific injuries directly involving the jaw joint. Everything from chewing gum or chewing primarily on one side of the mouth, to a direct hit or blow to the jaw. Even emotional and physical stress can lead to TMJ involvement and the symptoms listed above.
One simple TEST to find out if you have a possible TMJ problem is to place three fingers on one of your hands directly next to each other and then try to place them into our opened mouth. If they don’t fit because you can’t open wide enough, or if it cause a large click or pop, a popping sound or shift in the smooth movement of you jaw just in front of the ear opening, you should see the TMJ specialist or call our clinic about appropriated forms of treatment.
In our clinic we work with the alignment of the vertebrae in the neck and jaw, as well as with the muscles of the neck and with the TMJ disc that can be replaced in the TMJ joint. This is a gentle, low force technique done with a hand held instrument without pain, massage of the soft tissue involved, splint therapy using the TMJ Appliance splint, and working with your TMJ joint specialists.
The type of therapy and correction technique used in the treatment of TMJ dysfunction in our clinic have been clinical proven for 46 years. We are specialist in the neuro-musculoskeletal system and specialist in the TMJ joint dysfunction. In our clinical research, over 85% of our TMJ patients have responded favorably to gentle conservative care without the use of drugs, braces, or surgery.
For over 46 years I have practiced Chiropractic Corrected Health Care with my one primary efforts being directed toward the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ and related pain. Tremendous advances have been made in almost all areas of treatment and pain management of the TMJ joint. Most researchers in the past have ignored the most important problems associated with TMJ pain.
I AM A SPECIALIST IN THE NEURO-MUSCULO-SKELETAL AND SPECIALIZE IN THE TMJ JOINT DYSFUNCTIN AND CORRECTION AND TREATMENT OF TMJ PAIN.
IN OUR CLINIC WE USE ADVANCED CHIROPRACTIC TECHNIQUE CALLED ACTIVATOR MEDTHODS TECHNIQUE. This is a gentle, low force program of chiropractic care. We do not use any type of forceful osseous treatments. This technique has been used for over 35 years to benefit patients with a wide range of health problems---with out drugs or surgery. This method of treatment incorporates the latest advances in orthopedic, neurological and muscular, chiropractic examinations along with a unique system of administering the correct treatment to relieve the TMJ dysfunction, and in many cases corrects the cause of the problem. Correcting the TMJ joint dysfunction helps the body to heal itself. This correction is done with the Activator instrument, and using a most advanced technique to diagnose dysfunction, the doctor can help to restore the normal position of the TMJ joint safely and comfortably. The doctors in our office have received extensive training in the Activator Methods Technique.
The Activator Technique Method is also one of the most scientifically researched techniques in the chiropractic world. To address the TMJ joint dysfunction, we use a small hand held instrument called the Activator. This unique hand held instrument was scientifically designed to give the TMJ patient a very specific “low force gentle” TMJ adjustment.
Activator TMJ adjustments are so quick and controlled, your body’s muscles are less to resist, allowing for a more precise and exact TMJ corrective adjustment. The Activator instrument delivers the corrective TMJ treatment in 2.4 mille-seconds,(you can’t blink your eyes that fast)and without any pain. One of the unique features of the Activator Technique is that we can zero in on the exact area of the TMJ problem that is causing your pain and TMJ dysfunction. This technique utilizes specific procedures to detect the TMJ joint dysfunction, detect body mechanical problems, and test neurological reflexes.
A TMJ condition does not go away without treatment. TMJ dysfunction lead to high tress, irritability, headaches and neck pain. TMJ dysfunction is a very serious condition, It is extremely painful and annoying to the person who has the TMJ dysfunction. OUR APPROACH IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
The TMJ joint is basically a complicated hinge joint. It is capable of movement both up and down as well as some side to side motion to allow chewing and grinding of food. The TMJ joint should be a smooth gliding joint that does not “ snap, pop, crack” when you open your mouth, and your jaw movement should be pain free. Teeth grinding (bruxism) is caused by muscle stress on the joint and a malfunction TMJ joint.
There are many bones of the face, head and jaw. The major bones of the skull are the frontal (forehead) (1), parietals (top sides of head) (2), temporals (2), occipital (back of head)(1), and sphenoid bone (1).
All of these skull bones, along with the TMJ must be correctly aligned to correct the painful TMJ joint. The sphenoid bone of the skull plays an important part in the correction of the TMJ joint. The sphenoid looks and acts like a flexible three dimensional see-saw, and a dysfunctional sphenoid can cause a twisting and pressure in the TMJ area. This pressure and twisting must be corrected to eliminate the TMJ pain.
The Doctor must have the skill and training to diagnose what joints are causing the TMJ pain and on which side of the head, and must have the knowledge to correct the problem. It is not unusual for the cause of the TMj pain to be on the opposite side.
We are not surprised to discover that our clinic is the 7th or more that the average patient visited with TMJ pain. We cannot say that our office correctly diagnoses and successfully treats every patient. That would be arrogant and unrealistic. Further, the TMJ sufferer must realize that he or she has to play a big part in determining the proper diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Often, exercises, dietary improvements, or alterations in life style may be all that need to change. The sufferer must be actively involved in his or her treatment. Not only is it unrealistic, but also unfair, to rely only upon the doctor or therapist. They should be viewed as partners or guides. The patient is responsible for recovery, not the doctors. Also, perhaps more than one type of treatment may be necessary in order to help your TMJ. Your body is far more complex than any computer or machine. Our technique that we use to correct the relieve TMJ pain makes the difference because, “ It works—and that’s what counts.”
Please call our office, 803-327-6155, today, and set up an appointment with Dr. Donald G. Kimble.
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