Do you know anyone who has ever suffered from frequent headaches, earaches, jaw pain or tenderness of the jaw, dull, aching facial pain, or biting or chewing difficulty or discomfort? Have you ever experienced clicking sounds while chewing or opening the mouth, a grating sensation while chewing, or a reduced ability to open or close the mouth?
"TMJ" stands for TemporoMandibular Joint, or the jaw joint. You have two TMJs, one in front of each ear, connecting the lower jawbone (the mandible) to the skull. The TMJs allow movement up and down, side to side, and forward and back—all the mobility necessary for biting, chewing and swallowing food, for speaking and for making facial expressions. Not all causes of pain from this joint are known. Some possible causes or contributing factors are injuries to the jaw area, various forms of Arthritis, dental procedures, genetics, hormones, low-level infections, auto-immune diseases, stretching of the jaw as occurs with inserting a breathing tube before surgery, and clenching or grinding of the teeth.
Care for this critical disorder (TMD) includes several phases of treatment. Dr. Netzley will always complete a full exam, with all x-rays and diagnostic test necessary to properly diagnose the best custom TMD treatment for each patient. In some cases only minor treatments may be necessary to stop this painful, degenerating disorder. Uncomplicated and gentle therapies are usually attempted first. In more aggressive cases, mouth guards and more detailed TMD treatments are then considered and discussed with the patient. Surgery is always thought of as a last resort.
Fortunately, there are many steps you can take at home and with Dr. Netzley to restore the joints to a healthy state. Mouth guards or splints have been utilized to treat teeth grinding, clenching, and the multiple degrees of TMJ disorders. Many patients have found them to ease the symptoms related to TMJ disorder, but the benefits vary widely. If one type doesn't work, another may. At Dr. Netzley's office, a new type of splint is called the NTI Device. It fits over just the top, front teeth. The NTI is designed to keep all of your back teeth from coming into contact, based on the philosophy that most clenching is done by the back teeth. Several splints fit over the top of the teeth, while others are made to fit on the bottom. They are intended to hold your jaw in a more comfortable position and to reduce clenching.
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5151 North Palm
Suite 450
Fresno, CA 93704
(559) 227-4078
