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TMD/TMJ
By: James J. White, D.D.S. / Your Dentist
Recently I did a consultation with a patient
who was referred to my office from an
orthodontist. The young lady was 29 years old
with chief complaints of neck pain and pain located in front of her ears.
Upon my examination, I found many muscles that were sore with
palpation. Frequent headaches were a major complaint, many of which
occurred in the morning and then late afternoon. She attributed the
headaches to stress.
I discovered that many muscles of her jaw, head and neck were in
spasm. Judging by the wear of her teeth, clenching or grinding was
probably causing the pain and not stress.
Tempromandibular joint disorder (also known as TMD and more
familiarly as TMJ) affect as many as 10 million people. TMJ issues are a
result of a chronically degenerative disease that may take years to develop.
The jaw joints break down in stages and, as with any other joint in
the body, the sooner one seeks care, the better the prognosis to arrest or
stabilize the degeneration. The mouth is the most used organ of our
bodies, so it comes as no surprise that the jaw joint can be subject to
damage - especially if the bite and the joint position are not in harmony.
There are many causes of joint dysfunction: tumors, bony growths,
arthritis, to name a few. By far, the most frequent cause of jaw joint
dysfunction is an improper bite.
Noises such as clicks, pops, or grating of the jaw joint are signals of
damage within the joint, as well as muscles that are not working in
harmony. When muscles are antagonistic to one another inflammation
can occur with
resulting pain
(neck pain,
headaches, jaw
pain, pain to chew).
The following are
some symptoms of
TMJ at some level:
headaches, worn,
cracked, chipped
or fractured teeth,
breaking of fillings
or crowns, pain
around the ears/
jaw joints, cold
sensitivity in select
teeth, jaw joint noises: clicking, popping, grating, head, neck, shoulder
and even back pain and/or decreased range of motion (mouth opening).
The lady in this example was in the early stages of disharmony of her
bite and physiological jaw joint position. I was able to relieve her pain
through bite splint therapy and then a correction to her bite.
The take away message is not to ignore jaw joint noises or frequent
head and neck pain. Early treatment is the key.
It never gets better on its own. The noise may go away (sometimes
for years) but the noise and symptoms will return, along with increasing
teeth damage.
Leaving the Hospital? Tips to Prepare You for Home
By: Regale Harris / Your Kindred Team
If you find yourself in the hospital it can be
very exciting when your physician finally
tells you that you can go home. It’s important to
prepare for your return home to make sure your transition is successful.
How do you keep your home safe? What can you do if there’s a problem?
Before You Head Home
After your hospital stay, you may not be able to get around as well as
you once did, and you may need assistance. With that in mind, take a
moment to assess your home.
Practice using a cane, walker,
crutches, or a wheelchair before leaving
the hospital, if you can. It is especially
important to practice the correct ways to:
1. Sit down to use the toilet and stand up after
using the toilet.
2. Get in and out of the shower and use of
shower chair.
3. Go up and down stairs.
Ask your doctor if there are specific foods you should try to eat or avoid
eating. Then, ask a loved one or friend if they can help you get groceries
before heading home.
Make a list of your medications and dosage and when you should take
them. Then organize your medication in a pillbox so your loved ones can
help you take the medicine at the correct time.
Confirm bathing instructions with your doctor. Are there any special
instructions if you have an incision site or wound?
Preparations to Make Your First Day
1. If possible, enter your home without climbing steps. If you need to
climb steps, ask someone if they could be available to provide assistance
if needed. Make sure the handrails are secure and a light can be turned
on from the top and the bottom of the stairs.
2. Set up a “command center” near the chair you will be using most
often. Make sure to keep your phone near, all remotes needed and a water
bottle to stay hydrated.
3. Make sure everything you need
is easy to get to. Consider setting up a
temporary bedroom on the main level if you
must climb stairs to reach your bedroom. Make
sure a bathroom is available, ideally on the same
floor.
4. Remove small throw rugs, and make sure area
rugs have non-slip backing or are taped down with
double-sided tape.
5. Be sure a telephone is easily accessible in each room of the main
living areas. If using a cordless or cell phone, be sure the charger is easily
accessible and the phone is fully charged.
If you have healthcare questions, call 1.866.KINDRED to speak with
one of our Registered Nurses.
Regale Harris is the Manager of Volunteer Services and
Community Liaison for Kindred. She welcomes all questions and
inquiries and can be reached at: regale.harris@kindred.com.
“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
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M
astering the art/science of dentistry takes
experience, extensive post-graduate education,
and a passion for the art of dentistry.
We offer:
• Implants
• Cosmetic crowns/bridges
• Turbyfill dentures
• Bridges on implants to replace dentures with
permanent teeth (what a concept!)
• Restorative care
• Experienced registered dental hygienists
• TMJ problems
• A full service office
Today’s senior dentistry is amazing!
CALL for a complimentary consultation.
Learn more about Dr. White at:
www.jameswhitedds.com
September 2017
Actual patient
James J. White DDS
1140 Town Center Drive, # 170, Las Vegas, NV 89144
702/562-8833 • 702/562-7910 Fax
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