Diagnosis of the temporomandibular joint

The Kwiatek Clinic from Poznan offers computer diagnostics of temporomandibular joint disorders and supervision over therapy aimed at improving the quality of life by eliminating the discomfort associated with this disease.

Temporomandibular Joint - Structure and Functions

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the jawbone to the temporal bone, which is part of the cranium. Between the jaw and the skull, there is an articular disc, whose task is to cushion the friction of bone against bone. The whole structure is stabilized by muscles and ligaments.

These are unique joints in our body, as they are the only ones that work simultaneously, meaning that the movement of the joint head on the right side is synchronized with the movement on the left side. This allows for proper jaw movements during speaking, eating, chewing, swallowing, or other activities.

Unfortunately, these are also joints that are exposed to high loads. Dental gaps on one side, untreated malocclusions, improperly growing "wisdom teeth", and injuries, even from the distant past, negatively affect the functioning of the temporomandibular joints, which results in the creation of asymmetry in the smile and the entire face.

Symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders

Abnormalities within the temporomandibular joint may not cause any discomfort for years.

However, there may be symptoms that the patient does not immediately associate with a dental problem, such as:

• morning, radiating headaches,
• tension in the shoulder and neck area,
• toothaches of unknown origin,
• tinnitus,
• feeling of fatigue after a night's sleep.

Other symptoms indicating problems with the temporomandibular joints include:

• clicks and friction in the joint when opening the mouth,
• deviation and dislocation of the jaw,
• difficulty in opening the mouth,
• feeling of pain when chewing hard food,
• tearing,
• painful discomfort around the corner of the eye.

Pain in the temporomandibular joints is much less common than muscle pain and has the characteristics of inflammatory pain. We feel it locally in the ear or just in front of it, especially during chewing or speaking.
Untreated dysfunctions of the temporomandibular joint have a significant impact on the comfort of life and health. In addition to the above symptoms, the consequences of TMJ disorders are:

• sleep disorders,
• dizziness,
• fainting,
• depression,
• headache,
• pain in the sinus area,
• ear pain,
• balance disorders,
• hypersensitivity to sounds,
• pain in the area of the temporomandibular joints,
• overgrowth of facial muscles,
• muscle contractions,
• back muscle pain,
• limited head mobility,
• sensitive and shaky teeth,
• changes in dentition (vertical cracks in teeth, excessive wear),
• falling out fillings,
• periodic blurred vision,
• dry eye,
• sudden deterioration of vision,
• pain in the eye socket area.

Causes of disorders

The causes of disorders related to the temporomandibular joint can include:

• stress,
• arthritis,
• dislocation of the articular disc,
• degenerative changes,
• over-retraction of the jaw, which is a result of:
  • losses in the posterior dentition,
  • asymmetrical losses in the dentition,
  • tilting of the upper teeth backwards,
  • deep bite.
• bad habits leading to a lack of muscle balance such as:
  • clenching and grinding teeth (bruxism),
  • overbiting lips,
  • chewing gum,
  • nail and cuticle biting.
• mechanical injuries including:
  • jaw injuries,
  • blows to the face, head or chin,
  • traffic accidents,
  • injuries after intubation.

Diagnostics

The examination before temporomandibular joint treatment includes:

• patient interview,
• manual joint examination,
• Cadiax system examination,
• X-ray images,
• detailed dental examination.

Based on the collected information, the doctor makes decisions about further treatment.

What is the Cadiax system?

Cadiax – is a system for computer-aided diagnostics and functional analysis of the temporomandibular joint. The device records the mutual displacements of the maxilla - mandible system in three dimensions.

What does the examination look like?

The analysis performed in our Clinic using the Cadiax device allows for the detection of any abnormal changes.

It involves a computer examination of the joint using special plates that record the movements made by the Patient during physiological activities such as: swallowing, speech, chewing, clenching teeth or grinding. In addition to detecting abnormalities, the doctor is also able to determine their scale. The examination is completely painless.

Together with a detailed medical interview and the analysis of X-ray images, it allows for the development of an individual treatment plan for the Patient.

Detecting pathology in the temporomandibular joint and implementing treatment, improves the quality of life of Patients.

Treatment

It involves eliminating the causes and changing the habits that lead to dysfunction.

Depending on the case, it may be necessary to:

• dental treatment,
• prosthetic treatment,
• orthodontic treatment,
• physiotherapy (e.g. laser therapy),
• dental physiotherapy (reducing muscle and fascia tension).

An essential element of the therapy for functional disorders of the masticatory system is the use of occlusal splints. At Kwiatek Clinic, we use RPP lingual splints, which relax the tension in the temporomandibular joint. They are made individually based on a dental impression. Regular check-ups are required every few weeks.

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