What Tools Will My Orthodontist Use to Diagnose TMJ?
- First, your orthodontist will give you a physical examination to check for evidence of TMJ. He/she may examine the large jaw muscle near the temple (called the "temporalis" muscle), as well as the Temporomandibular Joint to see if those muscles are tender to the touch. Very often, however, the best diagnostic tool your doctor can use is discussing your specific symptoms and history of the condition with you. During the examination, he/she will ask you about the times and situations in which the TMJ problem has occurred. He/she will be looking for any patterns in your life that may cause or contribute to the TMJ Disorder.
- Your orthodontist may use an x-ray, called a "tomogram" to check for jaw bone displacement. The x-ray can take a picture of the bone, but it cannot show the muscle tissue and disc itself, because they aren't bony. Therefore, unless there is injury, displacement, or inflammation in the bone itself (bone degeneration), another instrument will have to be used for diagnostic purposes.
- If your orthodontist feels it is necessary, he/she may order an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This diagnostic procedure must be done at a hospital, and will likely not be covered by most insurance plans. An MRI takes a picture of the little pad of cartilage that protects the jaw bone and acts as a "shock absorber" for the joint. Very often, in TMJ patients, this cartilage has become displaced, and it is helpful for the orthodontist to have a clear picture of the displacement so it can be realigned.
|
