Sleep disorders cause all sorts of problems, and they are more common than most people realize. Dr. Jennifer J. Cornell, DDS, at Dental Sleep and TMJ Solutions of Clarksville, has answers to some of the questions that come up about the conditions preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Question: Can my chiropractor help my TMJ problem?
Answer: Yes! A chiropractor may be able to help with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, depending on the underlying cause of your issue. Chiropractors focus on musculoskeletal alignment, and since the TMJ is connected to the jaw, neck and spine, chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue work might help alleviate pain and improve function. But the temporomandibular joint is a unique joint and not like other joints of the body. The right and left TM joint is not only supported by the musculoskeletal system such as muscles and tendons but also by teeth! If there is an injury or condition of these delicate joints, the teeth and how those teeth meet play a huge role in healing and function.
As an example, if you injure your knee joint, often the patient is provided a brace to immobilize and support the joint while it heals. The only way to “immobilize” the TM joints would be to wire the jaws shut; but that is extreme and not necessary unless bones are broken or something catastrophic. The TM joints are always in use – talking, eating and even swallowing. They are in constant action. Not only do they hinge, but they also translate when opening wide. So the focus is not to immobilize but to support the TM joints by using splints or removable orthotics that fit over the teeth, similar to a fancy retainer.
The jaw joint is made of two boney components, much like other joints in the body. But one of the boney components is the base of the skull, and the other is a small, fist-like portion of the lower jaw called the condyle. In between these boney components is a frisbee-shaped disc. This disc is supposed to guide or assist the condyle as it moves and functions. Sometimes this disc can get injured, misshapen and even out of place. The click that is heard when a patient opens is actually the disc popping back into place, and often this is misunderstood. So, when a patient’s teeth are together, their jaw joint is actually “dislocated,” and then, when they open and you hear the click, they are “relocating” back onto the disc. So, when a jaw is manipulated back into place, or the disc is recaptured if not stabilized by the teeth, it is extremely likely they will “dislocate” shortly thereafter.
Dentists can work with knowledgeable chiropractors to fabricate splints, or orthotics, so that the jaw adjustment when performed successfully will then have a better chance of stabilizing over the long term. The splints, or orthotics, that fit over teeth act like the “brace” used for an injured knee joint. Dentists with additional training in how to fabricate these splints, adjust them during the healing process, and properly instruct the patient during the weaning process, can work with chiropractors for better outcomes.
There are other health care professionals like physical therapists and massage therapists who can also undergo additional training in release of muscle tension to help patients with TMJ disorders, but collaboration with a dentist who has advanced training is key for best outcomes. At Dental Sleep and TMJ Solutions of Clarksville, we have completed additional training in the area of TMJ disorders, and we do collaborate with many of the health care professionals in our area. We are all about improved patient outcomes and look to others for the best interests of the patient we are treating.
For more, visit the Dental Sleep and TMJ Solutions of Clarksville website or call 931-645-8000.