TMJ Article | TMJ Description |TMJ Testimonials

Do you suffer from the Great Imposter?

by Dr. Richard Chanin, DMD, MIAOMT
A reprinted article from the January/February 2007 edition of Whole Living Journal
  • Do you have a history of headaches?
  • Does your neck constantly feel tight?
  • Do you regularly have tension in your shoulders?
  • Are your cheek muscles tired and sore?
If you responded "yes" to the above questions, you may suffer from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) which is caused by bruxism, the grinding or clenching of the teeth. This generally occurs during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep.

People who grind their teeth often awaken feeling fatigued. Many times, the jaw muscles directly in front of ears are tight or sore. Over 70 percent of the people who grind their teeth while sleeping have no recollection of it upon waking. Those who clench their teeth during the day tend to feel their symptoms in the late afternoon.

How does bruxism cause multiple problems which include headaches, neck aches and tension in the shoulders? First, grinding the teeth and clenching the jaws causes the back teeth to hit off axis, straining the ligaments which connect the teeth to the bone. Next, the stretch receptors within the ligaments attempt to adjust the jaw muscles which causes those muscles to spasm. This realignment of the jaw muscles causes the head to tilt forward and down and the muscles of the neck and shoulders go into spasm to accommodate the new position of the head.

It's not unusual for a TMJ patient to be misdiagnosed by multiple doctors. But there is hope. A device known as an Orthopedic Condylar Repositioning Appliance (OCRA) can successfully alleviate headaches, neck and shoulder tension, and pain in and around the TMJ.

The OCRA is designed to reorient the jaw and relax the surrounding musculature. It is a two-piece appliance that fits over the upper back teeth and consists of both a single-pad and full-pad configuration.

During the initial stage of treatment, the single-pad configuration is used to prevent the teeth from coming in contact with each other off axis. The orientation of the pads allows the jaw muscles to relax each time the patient swallows. As the muscles relax, the lower jaw can rotate in a front-to-back motion. This type of movement is unique to the OCRA.

The average length of treatment is two months. During this time, the OCRA is worn around-the-clock, except while eating. Weekly office visits are needed to adjust the appliance to the new state of muscle relaxation.

The single-pad configuration of the device is worn during the first six weeks of treatment. The full-pad configuration is worn the following two weeks. Then the patient is gradually transitioned from full-time wear to night-time only.

Using this appliance, relief is felt within several weeks, sometimes within days. For most patients, this method of treatment is life changing.

About the Author: Richard Chanin, DMD, MIAOMT, has researched and treated TMJ maladies for over 25 years. His success is directly related to the OCRA appliance which he helped develop.
TMJ Article | TMJ Description |TMJ Testimonials

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