TMJ / Headache Treatment

TMJ or Temporal Mandibular Joint problems can be caused by many different things. It could be that there is a problem with the joint itself, such as rheumatoid arthritis. TMJ disorder can also be caused by the disc inside the joint being displaced. Lastly, it can be due to a chewing system problem, in other words, teeth, muscles and their relationship to the joint. This is where Dr. Stummer comes in. He was trained in the diagnosis and treatment of joint pain and headaches at the Peter Dawson Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has had much success in relieving pain for his patients and the patients of other dentists who refer their TMJ patients to him.

The first thing Dr. Stummer does is determine what the issue is.  Is it the jaw muscles or the occlusion (bite) or both causing the issues? Are the “chewing muscles” overactive? Is the patient clenching or grinding their teeth at night? By palpating various head and face muscles, Dr. Stummer can get a good idea if the muscles are to blame. The other possibility is that the teeth are fitting together in a way that is not “comfortable” for the jaw joint.

The treatments involve varying types of splints that will address the muscles, joint and occlusion to rid the patient of headaches, joint and jaw pain.