Education Spotlight: TMJ Disorder and Treatment

In early December of 2010, Dentistry at 1818 Market Street's Dr. Jonathan Siegel participated in the prestigious SPEAR Education series of seminars; this one specifically on TMJ Disorder and Treatment.

TMJ is short for the Temporomandibular Joint – or jaw joint. It refers to the joints where the jaw attaches to the skull just in front of the ears. TMJ Disorder is the pain and discomfort associated with stress on that joint and related muscles, usually due to an unusual bite, or occlusion. This stress can lead not only to tooth pain, but neck and back pain, and sometimes headaches or migraines.

Therefore, treatment is usually focused on ways to relax the muscles, and adjust the bite. For patients with severe pain, we can often start with a regimen of medication and a soft mouth guard or similar appliance. Generally, treatment is achieved over several visits as approaches and appliances are tailored to alleviate each patients' specific pain, and restore function.

For more information, visit our website, or contact us to schedule an appointment. We have over 40 years of experience treating TMJ Disorder.