Orofacial Pain (TMD / TMJ)

Facial Services For Adults

At TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Cleveland, we know just how complex craniofacial pain can be. The manner in which it presents is highly varied, necessitating individualized treatment plans for each patient. A patient may have TMD, migraines, facial neuralgias, musculoskeletal pain, or a combination of any or all of the above.

TMJ pain is the condition that our patients most frequently turn to us for help with. TMD can cause significant pain affecting much of the craniofacial region. TMJ pain can arise on its own but is usually just one part of a complex series of issues. Some reasons TMJ pain develops are:

• Car accidents
• Sports injuries
• Falls
• Clenching the teeth
• Grinding the teeth

However, a frequent cause of TMD that many overlook is insufficient oxygen intake during sleep. We believe this to be the primary cause of TMJ pain. When the airway is obstructed, the body reacts in specific ways to prevent suffocation. One of these ways is grinding and clenching the teeth. When this action is repeated multiple times a night, the bones and joints can be worn down and damaged, causing pain.

CRANIOFACIAL PAIN SERVICES

The first step is diagnosing the condition causing the craniofacial pain. Once we have that diagnosis, successful treatment is possible. Our treatment plans are customized to the paint, offering different options for adults and children.

Orofacial Pain for Adults (TMD/TMJ)

Facial pain, headaches and jaw problems are frequently only a symptom secondary to a greater problem affecting the body, much like a fever is secondary to the common flu.

CRANIOFACIAL PAIN SERVICES FOR ADULTS – MAY INCLUDE 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Comprehensive diagnostics
• Non-surgical treatment plan for rehabilitation
• Decompression appliance therapy (short term wear of custom orthopedic oral orthotics – not splints)
• Nutritional counseling
• Medication and supplement regimens
• Physical medicine treatment (Laser therapy, trigger points, prolo therapy, phonophoresis)
• Multi-discipline Referral Coordination

Proper diagnosis and emphasis on origin rather than symptoms alone is key to successful, long term treatment results.  After proper diagnosis, a specific non-surgical, treatment plan for rehabilitation is developed for the unique needs of each individual patient.

SYMPTOMS

• Headaches – recurring or chronic
• Earache or ear symptoms of stuffiness or ringing
• Neck Pain or Stiffness
• Facial Pain
• Jaw joint sounds – clicking, popping or grating
• Limited ability to open or close mouth
• Jaw locking (opened or closed)
• Sensitive, loose or worn down teeth
• Pain or soreness in the TM joints
• Dizziness or Pain or difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Pain behind the eyes
• Extreme sensitivity to light

Orofacial Pain for Children (TMD/TMJ)

The good news with children is that they are still in developmental stage and the earlier the problem is diagnosed and treated the better the results!

CRANIOFACIAL PAIN SERVICES FOR CHILDREN – MAY INCLUDE 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Comprehensive diagnostics
• Non-surgical treatment plan for rehabilitation
• Orthopedic orthodontic development
• Nutritional counseling
• Supplement regimens
• Physical medicine treatment (Laser therapy, phonophoresis)
• Multi-discipline Referral Coordination

Orofacial pain, although most commonly thought of as a disorder affecting only adults, can present in children at an early age.  It may be milder or it may simply seem milder because unlike adult onset conditions, these young children have always had symptoms of jaw pain and headaches or difficulty in normal functions of opening, chewing, swallowing, speaking and communications. As sad as it sounds, they know no difference and assume pain and/or difficulties with function are normal and what everyone experiences. Unfortunately, if undiagnosed and left untreated, the symptoms and condition increase with age.

PEDIATRIC SYMPTOMS INDICATING THE NEED FOR TREATMENT

• Headaches – recurring or chronic
• Earache or ear symptoms of stuffiness or ringing
• Neck Pain or Stiffness
• Facial Pain
• Jaw joint sounds – clicking, popping or grating
• Limited ability to open or close mouth
• Jaw locking (opened or closed)
• Sensitive, loose or worn down teeth
• Pain or soreness in the TM joints
• Dizziness or Pain or difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• ADHD
• Bed wetting