• Pain in the jaw joint and surrounding structures
• Pain in the face
• Headache
• Popping or clicking in the jaw joints
• A crunching sound in the jaw joints
• Restricted opening
• Catching or locking of the jaw
• Pain when chewing
• Ear pain without actual ear infection
• A congested feeling in the ears
• Ringing in the ears

Each patient is different and the number, intensity and frequency of symptoms each patient presents with is unique.  Obviously, many of the above symptoms are not specific to temporomandibular disorders.  Dr. Spencer and Dr. Murphy work closely with your doctor, dentist and other members of the medical/dental community to make sure that the most accurate diagnosis possible is made.

Treatment for TMJ/TMD often involves the use of oral orthotics or “splints.”  In our office, day use splints are usually fabricated to be worn on the bottom teeth to make it more comfortable, less noticeable and easier to speak with it in.  We generally prescribe a separate splint for night time use which is worn on the upper teeth.  In addition to use of the splints, other therapies provided in our office include:

• Therapeutic injections to help “unlock” your jaw
• Prolo-therapy
• Trigger point injections
• Medical acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Moist heat application
• TENS therapy
• Ultrasound
• Iontophoresis 
• Use of medications as needed

If you are unsure of your diagnosis or treatment you should AVOID any type of “irreversible” therapy, such as:

• Equilibration—or grinding on the teeth to improve the bite*
• Orthodontics or braces*
• Crowning the teeth*
• Root canals
• Extraction of teeth
• ANY type of surgery on the TMJ or jaw

 *The American Dental Association refers to these procedures as “phase two therapy,” and as such should only be performed AFTER successful “phase one therapy.” 

In our practice, necessity of orthodontics or crowning the teeth after phase one splint therapy is EXTREMELY RARE.  Necessity of surgical therapy is even more rare.