TMJ/TMD
Serving areas of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
With Our Neuromuscular Dentistry in Okemos
TMJ and TMD, also known as temporomandibular joint syndrome and temporomandibular joint disorder respectively, is a degenerative and chronic disease that harms millions of people every year. People who suffer from TMJ/TMD experience a variety of symptoms ranging from mildly annoying to severely debilitating. This disease occurs in people who have an unhealthy skull-to-jaw relationship, which can be caused by a poor bite. When an individual has a poor bite, their jaw is usually misaligned, causing any number of problems. These symptoms include tinnitus, shoulder and neck pain, jaw pain, headaches, and popping or clicking sounds in their jaw joint.
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Neuromuscular dentistry is the field of dentistry that works to realign misaligned jaws and correct an individual’s bite. Since TMJ/TMD negatively affects both the soft and hard tissues in the jaw, this area of dentistry is often complex and requires an extensive skill set and experience. Dr. Tenaglia has experienced these issues herself! She has studied and trained extensively, taking thousands of hours of continuing education. Dr. Tenaglia can help you resolve your TMJ/TMD issues that can result in headaches and neck pain.
Fortunately, Dr. Christine Tenaglia has over 30 years of in-depth dental experience. Our team of dental experts is highly skilled and experienced in this area of dentistry and we can help you fix your teeth, your bite, and your smile today.
Diagnosing & Treating TMJ/TMD
Using our state-of-the-art technology, we will work to accurately diagnose your condition. We may use any number of diagnostic equipment and technologies, including computerized jaw tracking to observe your bite, electromyography to analyze your jaw’s functionality, and sonography to record any abnormalities in your jaw joint. In addition, we may utilize digital x-rays and 3D-imaging in order to evaluate the positioning and condition of your jaw joint. We will strive to provide you with an accurate diagnosis, safely and quickly.
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Treatment for TMJ/TMD usually proceeds in the following three steps:
- Relieve your muscle pain and spasm – Our first concern is to provide you with relief from your painful symptoms. One of the most effective ways of doing so is by using a technology referred to as ULF-TENS, an acronym for Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation. Essentially, this technology is just a method of relaxing your muscles by gently massaging them. ULF-TENS will relax your muscles using a gentle pulse to pump out waste products and increase blood flow. This technology will also stimulate your body’s endorphin production, which will in turn provide you with a natural anesthetic.
- Stabilize your bite – For this step, we generally use a temporary device referred to as an orthotic or splint. You will wear the orthotic/splint over your teeth and Dr. Tenaglia will make slight adjustments to the plastic, thereby aligning your teeth and TMJ into their proper position. This will work to stabilize your bite and TMJ relieving the rest of your remaining symptoms. Afterwards, we will work to permanently correct your bite.
- Long-term management – As there are any number of ways that this step can be achieved and since permanent management varies from patient to patient, you may want to ask Dr. Tenaglia about which method is best for you and your teeth.
