TMJ/TMD/Snoring Therapy
TMD, or Temporomandibulai Disorder, is a continued cycle of pain, muscle spasm and/or joint imbalance where the jaw meets the skull. The TMJ, or Temperomandibular Joint, is the point where the jaw contacts the skull. This joint is cushioned by a thin disc of cartilage, and supported by five muscles.
TMD Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Difficulty opening or closing mouth
- Popping or clicking of joint upon opening or closing
- Sore jaw muscles
- Dull, aching pain around the ear spreading into the face
These symptoms can begin with clenching or grinding the teeth, a bad bite, a blow to the head, neck or joint area, emotional stress or arthritis. There are ways the immediate symptoms can be relieved, such as moist heat, inflammation reducing drugs, muscle massage and a soft diet. Other ways of restoring balance are bite adjustment, orthodontics and plastic bite guard to aid in reducing clenching and grinding. Only in extremely severe cases is surgery necessary to repair a damaged joint.
Millions of people everyday suffer from TMD. However, the majority of symptoms can be managed with simple treatments and lifestyle changes. A thorough TMD exam will help determine which treatment is best suited for you.
Snoring
Snoring affects millions of people of all ages, both male and female. Oral appliance therapy is the most common treatment for the most severe snoring problems. Treatment procedures range from changing your sleep patterns to utilizing orthodontic-related appliances that help open the airways during sleep.
What makes the sound of snoring?
Snoring is caused by the vibrations of your soft and/or hard tissue palates; these vibrations occur because of increasingly narrow air passages. When air passes through these passages, a “flapping” sound occurs because the tissue is soft in nature. Surgery (to alleviate the snoring) is not always successful, however, because the sound may not originate from the soft palate; the snoring sometimes originates from tissues in the upper airway.
Loud snorers may have a more serious case of blocked air passages, known as apnea.
Common causes for snoring:
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Health Problems
- Obesity
- Obstructed Nasal Passages - Deviated Septum
- Poor Muscle Tone of the Tongue
- Daytime Fatigue
- Sleep Apnea
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies