The Biggest Mistake in TMJ Diagnosis

If you are dealing with persistent pain in or near your jaw, a popping or clicking sound that occurs in your jaw when you open or close your mouth, or a bite that feels misaligned or somehow “off,” you may be suffering from TMJ disorder. The term “TMJ” refers to the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects the bottom of the skull to the jawbone, or mandible. If the disc or ligaments of this joint become deteriorated or even dislocated, TMJ disease can be the result. The exact cause of TMJ problems is often unclear; while chronic stress, bad habits (such as putting too much food in the mouth at one time), traumatic injuries and even genetics can all play a part, other people seem to develop TMJ disorder without any specific cause. Because the source of TMJ disease can be so unclear, it is unsurprising that TMJ problems are often difficult to diagnose as well. Unfortunately, misdiagnosing TMJ disorder or dismissing the symptoms altogether also makes successful treatment difficult, if not impossible. Because of this, many people mistakenly believe that TMJ disorder is somehow “untreatable.” Fortunately, this is simply not true. In fact, TMJ can be permanently cured, and without resorting to potentially addictive medication or dangerous surgery. First, however, the disease must be properly diagnosed. Many dentists and physicians, despite their good intentions, fail to properly diagnose TMJ due to one big mistake.

The biggest mistake in TMJ diagnosis that is made by the majority of medical professionals involves how the patient is examined - specifically, how the jaw is positioned during the initial examination. Most doctors and dentists who are attempting to diagnose a patient who is exhibiting TMJ symptoms - even those who are well-regarded professionally and have a background in TMJ treatment or neuromuscular dentistry - begin with the patient’s jaw in an unnatural position. If you’re suffering from TMJ disorder, it follows that your jaw is misaligned and in an unnatural position to begin with - in fact, that’s the crux of the problem! Most TMJ specialists don’t realize that, in order to diagnose the disorder correctly, the jaw must first be temporarily relaxed. By relaxing the jaw prior to examination, lactic acid will be released in the muscles of the jaw, and the jaw itself will be able to fall into a more “natural” position. This natural position is ideal for examining, diagnosing and determining a course of treatment for anyone suffering from TMJ issues. Once the dentist or physician has the jaw in its natural position, he or she can then determine what needs to be done in order to make sure it stays there permanently. Failure to relax the jaw, therefore, is the biggest mistake in TMJ diagnosis.

As a patient, you may be wondering what you can do to prevent this mistake and receive accurate TMJ treatment. Your best bet is to make an appointment with a qualified TMJ specialist who will take the time to relax your jaw before your examination. Dr. Eddie Siman of Millennium Dental in Los Angeles, California does this for each and every one of his TMJ patients. Following this protocol allows Dr. Siman to provide the best TMJ care in the nation. If you’re ready to end your TMJ pain, contact Dr. Siman for your professional diagnosis today.