If you are experiencing headaches, migraines, and jaw or neck pain, you may be among the one third of adults who are living with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Patients with TMD may also complain of popping, clicking or grating sounds in the joint and feel pain when opening and closing their mouth. Symptoms such as head and neck pain, if un-treated, may become chronic and centralized within the nervous system, becoming more difficult to treat. At AZTMJ, Dr. Stan Farrell is one of the best-qualified doctors in the country for treating TMD. His state-of-the-art treatments are proven to alleviate pain over the long term without the dangers of addiction to prescribed medications. Dr. Stan Farrell’s non-invasive approach to treating TMD, which includes the use of a dental splint device, can often reposition the jaw without discomfort and helps strengthen facial muscles to assist in maintaining the proper jaw position over the long term. If you or someone you know is experiencing jaw pain or any type of facial pain please schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Farrell at 480-945-3629 or visit us at www.headpaininstitute.com for more information.
Buescher JJ. Clarkson Family Medicine Residency, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA.
Abstract: Temporomandibular joint disorders are common in adults; as many as one third of adults report having one or more symptoms, which include jaw or neck pain, headache, and clicking or grating within the joint. Most symptoms improve without treatment, but various noninvasive therapies may reduce pain for patients who have not experienced relief from self-care therapies. Physical therapy modalities (e.g., iontophoresis, phonophoresis), psychological therapies (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy), relaxation techniques, and complementary therapies (e.g., acupuncture, hypnosis) are all used for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders; however, no therapies have been shown to be uniformly superior for the treatment of pain or oral dysfunction. Noninvasive therapies should be attempted before pursuing invasive, permanent, or semi-permanent treatments that have the potential to cause irreparable harm. Dental occlusion therapy (e.g., oral splinting) is a common treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders, but a recent systematic review found insufficient evidence for or against its use. Some patients with intractable temporomandibular joint disorders develop chronic pain syndrome and may benefit from treatment, including antidepressants or cognitive behavior therapy.
