TMJ and sleep specialist

Dr. Perkins is one of The Best TMJ Treatment Doctors

What is TMJ?

What is TMJ? TMJ literally refers to the Temporomandibular Joint. That is the ball and socket joint behind the ear that is involved with opening and closing the jaw. It is common to hear people refer to problems with the jaw and the joint as “TMJ” which is accepted but the more accurate term might be TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder). Typically “TMJ” or TMD refers to problems that arise from an improper or (non physiologic) bite. If a person’s bite is not in the correct place then a patient can have many muscle and jaw joint symptoms in the area as well as other symptoms would seem non related but are such as: ear congestion, ringing of the ear, and dizziness. Typically, a patient with TMJ will have a bite that requires their jaw to be positioned to far back. Oftentimes a TMJ patient will have an overbite which is a reflection of this retruded lower jaw position. The “bite” determines where the jaw position will be even when a person is not eating so it is important that the bite (the position where the upper and lower teeth come together) be one where the muscles don’t have to overwork in order to access it. Dr. Bob Perkins has successfully treated the most complex TMJ Cases and he can help find the right TMJ Treatment for you. Please call our office now to schedule your consultation!

Imagine walking where you raise your knees up to your waist with every step. Imagine the extra work your muscles in that area would undergo if you did this instead of a normal, less stressful, walking style. These muscles would soon become fatigued. You might have a number of symptoms that would arise from this chronic overworking of the muscles. Your hips might hurt, knees, etc.. Well, TMJ is similar in that when you have TMJ your muscles are typically working too hard in order to bring your teeth together. This chronic overworking can cause debilitating symptoms.

Our protocol is to diagnosis this dysfunctional bite and establish a new bite position on a trial basis to see if we can get ALL the symptoms to subside in a very timely manner. We can change a patient’s bite non invasively and totally reversibly with the goal being to allow the lower jaw to achieve a position with respect to the upper jaw where the muscles no longer have to overwork, the joint doesn’t have to experience compression….and relaxation and relief could be the lasting result. We hope and expect to relieve all symptoms within 4 weeks but we often get results within the first 24 hours. If we relief the symptoms with the “trial” bite we can then make that bite permanent.

The following are symptoms associated with “TMJ”. Some patients will only have (1) of these symptoms and others will have all of them. TMJ tends to get worse, not better because it is a structural problem that needs to be remedied by a correcting of the structure.

• Headaches or Migraines
• Ear pain or Ear congestion
• Facial Pain
• TMJ pain or TMJ clicking
• Neck Pain*
• Limited Opening
• Ringing of the ears
• Dizziness

“TMJ” is often associated with one or more of the following other symptoms:

• Sleep disorders including sleep apnea
• Retruded lower jaw (weak chin)
• Compressed lower face
• Overbite

In many cases a patient with TMJ will have their pain issues resolved as well as their sleep issues, and issues with facial balance. “Form follows Function”. If one system of out of balance it can create imbalances in other systems.

Patients Now Free of TMJ Pain

Connection between TMJ and other Health and Behavioral Issues

TMJ problems very often affect women much more than men. They also affect those who have a retruded lower jaw and an “overbite” much more than those whose jaws are developed more forward. Though not true in all cases it is very likely that a TMJ patient will have a retruded lower jaw. There is a certain facial profile that is common for TMJ patients. It is also true that people with retruded lower jaws will have a much higher likelihood of having sleep issues associated with an obstructed airway. With a visit to our office we will screen patients for airway and sleep issues at the same time we are diagnosing TMJ disorders. It is also very common for patients (young patients especially) to have a retruded lower jaw, sleep issues and behavioral issues such as anxiety and depression. The anxiety and depression are closely linked to the obstructed nighttime breathing.

When a patient presents with a retruded lower jaw it is a health issue. Oftentimes the jaw is retruded because of blockage of the upper airway and chronic mouth breathing. Chronic mouth breathing is a very big issue that can lead to tooth crowding, narrow upper arch, TMJ, obstructed sleep issues, and behavioral issues. It needs to be taken seriously. Below is a link to a TED talk that draws a link between jaw relationships (bite), sleeping disorders, and behavioral issues.

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