Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
You are not alone! Did you know that more than 15 percent of American adults suffer fromchronic facial pain; such as jaw pain, jaw popping, locked jaw, difficulty chewing, headaches orearaches? Dr.Haroun Rostami in Los Angeles can help you with the most appropriate and conservativetreatments for your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today at 3109798345 or complete the form and we willcontact you shortly.
What is TMD/TMJ?
Problems with your jaw, jaw pain and the muscles in your face that control it are known astemporomandibular disorders (TMD). Referring to the specific temporomandibular joint (TMJ),is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the bone of the skull. This joint is locatedimmediately in front of the ear on each side of the head. The muscles attached to the jaw allowthe jaw an incredible amount of movement, such as side to side and up and down.
This flexibilityallows us to chew, talk, and yawn. Each TMJ has a disc between the ball and socket. The disccushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and rotate or glide. Any problem thatprevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working properly mayresult in a painful TMJ disorder.
About Us
At Brentwood Dental Group, we seek to deliver the highest standard of excellence in dentistry with the goals of improving your oral health and providing you with a more beautiful smile. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are trained to accommodate you and any special needs you might have to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere starting from the moment you schedule your first appointment.
Dentistry is a combination of Science and Art, and both fields are changing everyday. We strive to keep up with the latest technology and best practices that have been developed in the dental field. According to the American Dental Association the number one reason for increased life expectancy in the United States is improved oral health, and we are here to provide you with the means for a healthier and longer life.
We place high priority on educating our patients on the pros & cons of their dental conditions and their available treatment options. We encourage our patients to actively participate in decision making for their treatment.
Treatment Options
What treatment options do I have?
Keep in mind that for most people, discomfort from TMD/TMJ will eventually go away whethertreated or not and our office encourages simple self-care non-invasive practices. If moretreatment is needed, it should be conservative and reversible. Dr.Haroun Rostami avoids, if at allpossible, treatments that cause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. If irreversible treatments arerecommended, we encourage you to gather all the information you need to make an informedbest decision and even to get a second opinion. Pain clinics in hospitals and universities are agood source of advice and second opinions for temporomandibular disorders.
Non-Invasive treatment options include:
- Using a dental articulator, Dr.Haroun Rostami will analyze your bite on an instrument thatsimulates the way your jaw works
- Bite correction with T-Scan computer-bite sensors which digitally map your bite so weknow precisely how your teeth bite, from the high spots to the low spots
- Bite Splint Therapy-If we determine that there is a cause/effect relationship between theincorrect bite of the teeth and TMJ/muscle symptoms, a bite splint could berecommended. A hard acrylic therapeutic device is fabricated to fit snugly over eitheryour upper or lower teeth creating an artificial biting surface that alleviates undue stressand force, providing for better joint and muscle function and comfort. As you wear thesplint, your bite on it will change, requiring additional adjustments to the splint. The goalis to alleviate the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders, as well as stabilize your bite onthe splint.
- Inflamyar – a compound of various natural plant based products for Treatment ofInflammation, Arthritis, Muscle Pain, Bursitis, Sprains, Bruises and Sports Injuries. Weuse this with low level laser therapy to help with sore temporomandibular joints andmuscles
- Eating soft foods
- Try to avoid extreme jaw movements, like yawning and gum chewing
- Avoid biting your nails
- Applying warm compresses to the area of pain
- Muscle stretching and relaxation exercises to perform at home
- If you have the habit of teeth grinding, Dr.Haroun Rostami can fit you with a therapeutic splintthat fits over your upper and lower teeth like a mouth sports guard. The splint is designedto ease muscle tension by reducing clenching or teeth grinding at night
More invasive treatment options include:
- A bite adjustment to correctly engineer your bite. It is a precise procedure that is alwaysdone first on models of your mouth. And before that procedure is done, a bite splint maybe prescribed to relax the muscles and allow the joints to stabilize first.
- Cortisone shots can help relieve inflammation and pain
- Fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth
- Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended
- Jaw joint replacement surgery to replace the jaw joint with an artificial implant
What are the chronic symptoms of TMD/TMJ?
- Facial pain or tenderness, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the earwhen you chew, speak, or yawn
- Limited ability to open the mouth wide
- Jaw popping
- Jaws that get “stuck” or “locked” in the open or closed mouth position
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the joint when the mouth is opened or closed
- Tired feeling in the face or neck
- Difficulty chewing
- Sudden uncomfortable feeling when biting
- Swelling on the side of the face
- Toothaches
- Consistent headaches or neck aches
- Dizziness
- Earaches
- Hearing problems
- Upper shoulder pain
- Ringing in the ears
- More women experience TMD/TMJ pain than men and is most often seen in peoplebetween 20 to 40 years of age.
What are potential causes of TMD/TMJ?
- Trauma or injury such as whiplash
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding
- Clenching
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Dislocation
- Tooth and jaw alignment
How is TMD/TMJ diagnosed?
At present, there is no widely accepted, standard test to correctly identify TMD/TMJ.Because the exact causes and symptoms are not clear, diagnosing temporomandibular disorderscan be confusing especially because other dental conditions, such as a toothache or sinusproblems, can cause similar symptoms.
In about 90 percent of the cases, says the Delta DentalPlans Association, your description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examinationof face and jaw by Dr.Haroun Rostami provides useful information for diagnosing temporomandibulardisorders. During an examination, we perform orthopedic types of tests on the TMJ such aspalpation (pressing various areas), auscultation (listening while the jaw moves), range of motiontests, and loading or joint compression tests.
These allow us to assess the current status of jointform and function. If you have joint pain, we will determine exactly which structure(s) areinvolved in order to make a diagnosis. We will also palpate the muscles of the head and neckarea to determine if they may be a source of pain.Dr.Haroun Rostami in Los Angeles may also take x-rays and make a cast of your teeth to see how yourbite fits together, or may request specialized x-rays of the TM joints.
Complimentary Consultation
After a personal consultation and exam, Dr.Haroun Rostami can suggest the most appropriate therapybased on the suspected cause of your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today 3109798345 to schedule anappointment in Los Angeles or complete the form for a complimentary consultation at Brentwood Dental Group
Call 3109798345 NOW to schedule your Complimentary Consultation or fill in the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Testimonials
Dr Rostami is such a wonderful dentist. My wife and I have been coming to his practice for more than 4years and the service has always been great! Make sure you stop by! - Roger James 11/20/2017
I visited Dr. Rostami for a dental exam about two weeks ago. He was very thorough and very kind. He uses a lot of technology so that you can see inside your mouth while he's doing the exam. Then he can actually point out to you where there are problems and why they are occurring. Instead of just telling patients to floss or brush more, Dr. Rostami is the first dentist I've been to who tries to educate you so that you can see your own teeth from a dentist's perspective, which provides a lot of incentive to take better care of your teeth. - Diana B. 1/21/2017
Brentwood Dental Group is great! The care provided by Dr. Rostami and his staff is genuine and professional. He is by far the best dentist I have ever had. He has great bedside manner, he is honest and does care about his patients. He does impeccable work and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. Also, brand new in 2021 he has updated his office design! Brand new wood floors for better hygiene with Covid 19 protocols. Bright light, bright paint and he takes the utmost precautions to make sure patients are safe. On-site temperature checks, Covid pre-checklist of symptoms, air filters in every room with good ventilation and most importantly they all wear masks and face shields. Also, they do not schedule more than one patient at a time to reduce on the amount of contact with people as possible! Great work! Give him a try! - Maureen M. 1/25/2021
Dr. Rostami is the best dentist that I have ever went to! He is very thorough with his comprehensive examination! He spent with me about an hour going over x-rays and pictures explaining every detail and causes behind it... he is very conservative with his diagnostic! He always tries to save the tooth. He did my fillings and they look so natural. Dr. Rostami highly recommended TMG guard Because I grind and clinch. He balanced my guard as well. This made me absolutely more aware of grinding and clinching so the guard is protecting my teeth from getting cracked. I always have it with me especially when I m at gym/driving/ working on the computer and for sure at night!! I also want to thank the wonderful staffs that every time I go, I feel less anxious and made the experience great :) - Kenza A. 8/31/2019