At Powell TMJ & Sleep Solutions, our goal is to discover what is wrong and why. Your doctor, Dr. Pamela Powell, performs a thorough TMJ and related structures examination to determine the cause of your TMJ pain and the best treatment. To diagnose TMJ disorders, we will take a mold of the teeth and evaluate the jaws, teeth, cervical (neck) areas and shoulders, as well as muscle and nerve function. Your in-depth, personalized evaluation also includes your health history, range of motion testing and sleep habit evaluation to help us arrive at an accurate diagnosis. By diagnosing and correcting for the actual disorders, we can help to relieve months or years of pain and suffering. Historically, traditional TMJ treatment has consisted of treating the symptoms, not actually diagnosing the reason for the pain.

Causes of TMJ Disorders

Anything that prevents the muscles, bones and joints of the jaw from working together harmoniously is called a TMJ disorder. TMJ disorders can be caused by a number of factors; there is no single cause of TMD (temporomandibular disorders).

The following may cause TMJ disorders:

• Trauma (such as a fall, whiplash or blow to the head)
• Skeletal malformation
• Arthritis in the TMJ
• Stress
• Hormonal problems
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth (bruxism)
• Occlusion (deep overbite, missing back teeth, crossbite, etc.); “Bad Bite”
• Systemic diseases
• Psychological factors
• Medications
• Lack of restorative sleep
• Poor posture
• Sleep apnea

During your initial consultation, our experienced doctor will perform a thorough examination to help determine the cause of TMD.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders can cause a variety of symptoms. Some people may not realize that a TMJ disorder is the cause of their pain and discomfort because of the broad range of symptoms that can be caused by these disorders. It has been called the “Great Impostor” because it can mimic a multitude of medical ailments, which often delays its true diagnosis.

Symptoms and signs of TMJ disorders may include:

• Headaches, including migraines
• Dizziness
• Earaches, congestion or ringing in the ears
• Tired, tight or painful jaws
• Neck and/or throat pain
• Clicking, popping or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open and close your mouth
• Facial pain
• Limited ability to open your mouth wide
• Jaw locking open/closed
• Pain when chewing
• Inability to find bite
• Unexplained coughing or throat clearing
• Pain behind the eyes
• Unexplained loosening or fracturing of the teeth

We invite you to call us at 208-344-2593 to learn more about treatments for TMJ disorders in Boise, Idaho, and schedule an appointment with Dr. Powell. We are committed to helping you enjoy a stable, pain-free life and comfortable jaw function.