Temporomandibular disorder may affect over 10 million Americans, and most suffer pain without ever knowing what’s wrong or how to correct it.
With TMD, even pain can add to the confusion because it’s often so diverse. Symptoms can include headaches, neck and shoulder pain, jaw pain, sensitive teeth, ear congestion, dizziness, difficulty chewing and swallowing, jaw snapping and tingling fingertips.
Carol Barbee, 41, had learned to live with the slight popping noise her jaw made as it snapped in and out of its socket. She had frequent back pain, headaches and numb, tingling fingers but saw no connection between that and the barely audible popping noise in her jaw.
Barbee, formerly a pediatric nurse at Methodist Medical Center and now with Circle of Life Homecare, said she often had terrible pain in her face and thought it was sinus infections.
All that changed one day about two months ago when her dentist, Dr. Rod Willey, heard the popping noise in her jaw. A CT scan confirmed TMD, a condition that involves the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles.
Willey is founder and CEO of Maple Shade Dental Group, 11825 N. Knoxville Ave., Dunlap, (www.maple-shadecenter.com), a practice with six dentists who do general family dentistry as well as specialties including treatment of TMD.
With TMD, chewing food can become a painful problem because the jaw joint no longer functions smoothly. The facial muscles become fatigued and stiff as chewing becomes more difficult.
Willey has treated hundreds of patients for TMD during the past 20 years. Rather than trying to treat sore muscles, he works to realign the jaw with a process of muscle relaxation and then a brace that holds the jaw in proper alignment.
Barbee said her pain was relieved within days of starting treatment.
Willey said, “I had one patient cry and tell me for the first time in 20 years she was sleeping through the night.”
With a specialty in neuromuscular dentistry, Willey treats the dental bite, muscles and joints. By relaxing muscles in the face, it becomes easier to see where the jaw should naturally align for a smooth bite.
The orthotic or retainer that holds Barbee’s bite in the correct position is clear plastic. When it’s in place in her mouth, it’s virtually invisible.
Barbee said her father’s popping jaw is even more pronounced.
“He’s 82, and he’s learned to live with various amounts of pain,” she said. Her father said he’s not interested in going through treatment for his condition.
Willey said his TMD patients have ranged in age from 8 to 75. He said braces sometimes create beautifully straight teeth but can exacerbate the bite, causing problems years later.
Another of Willey’s patients, Liz Hargens, said she went to a chiropractor with severe neck and shoulder pain. She woke up in the middle of the night with stiffness in her jaw. She went to her family physician thinking she had an ear infection.
“I didn’t have the clicking noise in my jaw,” Hargens said, referring to one of the classic symptoms of TMD. “But instead of finding an ear infection, my doctor said something’s wrong with your jaw. You need to see your dentist immediately.”
She called Willey’s office and when she described the problem, she was told to come in immediately.
A CT scan confirmed TMD.
“Two years ago, I started choking every time I ate. At first I thought it was because I wasn’t chewing carefully, so I really concentrated. I still choked,” she said.
“My neck and shoulder pain was so severe I saw a chiropractor and feared I might have to give up my computer job and find another job.”
Hargens, 48, said days after she started wearing a temporary orthotic, her pain was virtually gone.
Her health insurance does not cover this treatment, and she has worked out a monthly payment plan with Maple Shade Dental Group.
Willey said treatment costs vary widely, but an initial consultation is without charge.
“It blows my mind that this is not covered. It’s not a dental issue, it’s a medical issue,” Hargens said. “The pain got so bad I couldn’t sleep. I was concerned I had a tumor.”
View the article and photos at the following link. If you have questions about TMD disorders or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation please call Maple Shade Dental Group, in Peoria, IL at 309-243-7702.
