What is involved in treating TMJ?
Dr. Westman uses an up-to-date system of sophisticated instruments, the Myotronics K-7 system, for diagnostics and treatment.
How is TMJ treated?
If the test results indicate an imbalance in your bite, there are several options to correct the problem. Dr. Westman may recommend one or a combination of these to allow your TMJ to close to an ideal balanced position which will avoid muscle spasm, allow the muscles to heal and pain trigger points to disappear and healing to occur in the joint capsules.
Most patients experience a range of benefits depending on the severity of their TMJ problems. These can include reduction or elimination of pain and discomfort to improved overall health and longer lasting teeth and dental restorations.
Treatment options
Orthotic therapy
An orthotic is an appliance fitted to your teeth to align the jaw and promote muscle relaxation and joint decompression. It can be a semi-permanent appliance, remaining on the teeth for several months or it can be temporary, so the patient can remove and replace it.
Dr. Westman uses orthotics that are designed to be comfortable to wear at all times, while you are awake or asleep. The best results are achieved with 24/7 use.
Your symptoms should begin to disappear or improve almost immediately and continue to improve for several weeks. This will make it necessary to rebalance your bite on the orthotic to keep up with the improvement. Once maximum comfort has been achieved and your posture has stabilized, usually within three months, then other procedures can be undergone to maintain the improvements established b the orthotic. One option is to repair, reline or replace the orthotic to allow for long-term orthotic use.
Coronoplasty
With this treatment, Dr. Westman will reshape the biting surface of your teeth with heavy polishing to remove irregularities that deflect the jaw as it attempts to close to its optimal biting position. If you have minimal difference between your existing bite and the desired bite, coronoplasty may be the best treatment option for you.
Orthodontics (braces)
Using the neuromuscular or holistic approach to orthodontics establishes proper alignment of the teeth, jaw and muscles before beginning treatment and moving teeth into their proper position. Unlike the traditional approach to dentistry, this type of treatment provides more long-term stability of the teeth.
With some patients, restorations may be a better option than braces because they can replace old leaking fillings, eliminate delay and improve the appearance of teeth, while aligning the teeth and jaws instantly, without the need to use braces. In some cases, a combination approach may be recommended.
Dental restorations
When a major difference between the existing bite and the desired bite exists, restorations including veneers, onlays, crowns, fixed bridges or removable dentures may be the recommended route to build a naturally comfortable bite. Depending on the severity of the problem, some patients will require restoration of only a few teeth, others may require several or even all of the teeth to have restorations.
If restorations are required, they can be prepared at the same time to create a proper bite.
Surgery
Surgery is rarely recommended as non-surgical therapy is usually effective.
