What is TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction)?

TMD may include any of the following symptoms:

-Headaches                                      -teeth clenching and grinding

-jaw joint pain                                    -facial pain

-jaw joint noise/clicking                   -sensitive teeth

-limited mouth opening                   -chewing difficulties

-ear congestion                                -neck pain

-dizziness                                           -postural problems

-ringing in the ears                           -tingling of the fingertips

-difficulty swallowing                        -hot and cold sensitivity

-loose teeth                                       -nervousness or insomnia           

An imperfect bite can factor in many types of pain or functional problems because of the inter-relationship of the overall musculoskeletal system.   Since there is a relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, head and neck muscles, and head position, a problem in any one of these areas may affect the others.

Diagnosing these problems can be very difficult at times and may require the collective efforts of your dentist, ear, nose and throat specialist, physical therapist and chiropractor.

Using computerized technology to determine optimal bite position, Dr. Van Slate can test your bite to see if it is a contributing factor to the problem.   With this technology, we have had a lot of success treating TMJ related problems