Temporomandibular joint Dysfunctions (TMD) / Craniomandibular Disorder (CMD)
Clicking sounds during chewing or yawning, grinding of the teeth (bruxism), head- or neck pain, limitations of mandibular movements, earaches, facial pain and spine problems caused by bad posture can be symptoms and common signs of TMD/CMD.
Those symptoms could be also be an indicator that “the bite/occlusion are not right”. The bite can be a factor in many types of pain or functional problems because of the inter-relationship of the overall musculoskeletal system.
In the majority of CMD patients only the symptoms are treated not the cause for example medication with headache tablets, unspecific physical therapy, wearing a simple night-time bite-guard splint- without essential improvement of the CMD symptoms.
In our practice the physical examination of the temporomandibular joint and the chewing system include inspection, palpation and auscultation (Manual Functional Analysis) and helps to determine the cause/relationship between the pain of clicking sounds and the chewing system.
By taking specific loading tests we can find out, which part of the chewing system is affected (Temporomandibular Joint, muscles, TMJ ligament/capsule). The result of the localized myalgia and arthralgia of the chewing system.
In single cases additional examinations are necessary, for example diagnosis imaging like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is particular useful for imaging the TMJ and facial soft tissues.
Specific medical treatment, specific splint therapy, well mapped- out the therapy by a physiotherapist, osteopathic or TMJ referred orthodontic treatment are the most common therapeutic courses of action.