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TMJ/TMD Treatment
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Headaches, popping and clicking in the jaw joints and pain with chewing are all symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The number of people that have TMD problems is increasing dramatically. Our office is now equipped with the latest, most sophisticated diagnostic equipment made to help pinpoint the cause so that we can get you the treatment needed to be pain free. If you are having any of the symptoms of TMD pain, please contact our office for an examination appointment.
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Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA)
JVA can give the clinician a detailed description of TMJ function prior to appliance therapy and can be used to test the appliance’s impact on TMJ health, prior to splint production. Joint Vibration Analysis is based on simple principles of motion and friction: When smooth surfaces rub together, little friction is created...and little vibration. If these surfaces become rough, then friction and vibration are created when these surfaces articulate.
T-Scan Closing the Gap on OcclusionFor years, dental occlusion had been largely a matter of guesswork for dentists. Articulation paper marks, waxes, pressure indicator paste, etc, were the only tools available to assess and balance the forces of the bite. These methods do not detect simultaneous contact, nor do they quantify time and force. This gap led Tekscan to develop technology, which provides data that allows dentists to better evaluate and assess occlusion.
The T-Scan II brings unprecedented accuracy to analysis of dental occlusion. The T-Scan II is the only tool that can quantify the timing and force of your bite. It enables you to look beyond the static marks left by articulating paper. Marks that tell you only that there was contact at some point between first tooth contact and disclusion. T-Scan II allows you to see the order of tooth contact, and the force of each contact along the way. For the first time you can adjust the occlusion and control the order and timing of contacts. This can be used to make sure that natural teeth contact and load before implants come into occlusion. The ability to compare bilateral contacts with pinpoint accuracy is one of the greatest strengths of T-Scan II. The software computes the forces of all the teeth, instantly summarizing this information for the clinician in new diagnostic displays that are accessible with the click of a mouse.
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Human joints have surfaces which rub together in function.
Smooth, well lubricated surfaces in a proper biomechanical relationship produce little
friction and little vibration. But surface changes, such as those caused by
degeneration, tears, or displacements of the disk, generally produce friction and
vibration. Different disorders can produce different vibration patterns or “signatures”.
PC-assisted vibration analysis helps identify these patterns and helps you
distinguish among various TM disorders. Joint Vibration Analysis is the only system that records joint
vibrations as they pass through the tissue. This seemingly small improvement over
old “sonography” equipment provides an incredibly clear view of the pressure
waves created by the TMJ’s.
JVA provides a fast, non-invasive, and repeatable measurement of
TMJ function to aid in the diagnosis of TMJ function. Understanding TMJ
function is vital anytime you are changing the vertical, lateral, or A/P position of the
mandible. Common treatments that change mandibular such as TMD treatment, Orthodontics, Reconstruction and Sleep Dentistry can benefit
from JVA testing.