Searching for the Best TMJ Professionals
Temporomandibular joint disorder is a fairly common syndrome of the jaw area that can be caused by a variety of factors. Root causes of this problem can range from muscle stress, a joint problem, the practice of bad habits, and a misalignment of teeth or wrong bite. Treatment of this disorder is also highly dependent on the reason for the development of the problem. Often, non surgical procedures are recommended to those whose TMJ are caused by muscle stress while surgery is reserved for patients who have serious joint complications such as a degenerative joint disease.
The key to proper treatment of TMJ, however, is not merely the use of proper procedure. The fate and recovery of a patient with this problem actually depends a lot on the professional handling his/her case. The first step in dealing with TMJ is to consult to your personal dentist. Since he/she is already familiar with your dental history€"which is very important in diagnosing TMJ€"he can give you a clear view of the extent of your problem and answer whether or not you need the help of a TMJ doctor. If your dentist believes that your case needs to be handled by someone else, ask for a referral of maxillofacial surgeons that can help you out.
Note, however, that there is no such thing as a formal €TMJ specialist'. Technically, all dental practitioners have knowledge about the treatment of this disorder but maxillofacial surgeons are more preferred since they specialize in the mouth and jaw. If your TMJ problem has already escalated to very serious levels, you may even need to consult with a surgeon who can correct jaw imbalance and other dilemmas.
Now let's say you finally have a list of professionals in your hand. The next step before actually choosing one is to do a little background research on your candidates. You can easily refer to online message boards to ask for recommendations or opinions about certain dentists in your area. Or, you can also consult fellow patients who are plagued with TMJ and ask their opinions and suggestions. Believe it or not, these people are actually the best source of information because of their unbiased reactions.
Besides from looking for the perfect TMJ doctor, it is also highly recommended for a person suffering from this problem to seek the help of other health care providers as well for the treatment of non-dental symptoms. Massage therapists and physical therapists are usually the other professionals approached by those who have TMJ since the disorder can be caused by stressed muscles on the neck, head, and jaw area. Psychotherapists, psychologists, and even psychiatrists may also contribute a lot in this problem since they are the pros when it comes to stress control methods. If your TMJ has already become too painful to bear, then you may also need to consult with a doctor specializing in pain management to ease your suffering. If you decide to look for these experts to add to your team, however, it would again be best to ask your chosen TMJ doctor for recommendations.
The key to proper treatment of TMJ, however, is not merely the use of proper procedure. The fate and recovery of a patient with this problem actually depends a lot on the professional handling his/her case. The first step in dealing with TMJ is to consult to your personal dentist. Since he/she is already familiar with your dental history€"which is very important in diagnosing TMJ€"he can give you a clear view of the extent of your problem and answer whether or not you need the help of a TMJ doctor. If your dentist believes that your case needs to be handled by someone else, ask for a referral of maxillofacial surgeons that can help you out.
Note, however, that there is no such thing as a formal €TMJ specialist'. Technically, all dental practitioners have knowledge about the treatment of this disorder but maxillofacial surgeons are more preferred since they specialize in the mouth and jaw. If your TMJ problem has already escalated to very serious levels, you may even need to consult with a surgeon who can correct jaw imbalance and other dilemmas.
Now let's say you finally have a list of professionals in your hand. The next step before actually choosing one is to do a little background research on your candidates. You can easily refer to online message boards to ask for recommendations or opinions about certain dentists in your area. Or, you can also consult fellow patients who are plagued with TMJ and ask their opinions and suggestions. Believe it or not, these people are actually the best source of information because of their unbiased reactions.
Besides from looking for the perfect TMJ doctor, it is also highly recommended for a person suffering from this problem to seek the help of other health care providers as well for the treatment of non-dental symptoms. Massage therapists and physical therapists are usually the other professionals approached by those who have TMJ since the disorder can be caused by stressed muscles on the neck, head, and jaw area. Psychotherapists, psychologists, and even psychiatrists may also contribute a lot in this problem since they are the pros when it comes to stress control methods. If your TMJ has already become too painful to bear, then you may also need to consult with a doctor specializing in pain management to ease your suffering. If you decide to look for these experts to add to your team, however, it would again be best to ask your chosen TMJ doctor for recommendations.