External and Internal Derangement - 2 Forms of TMJ - Dr. Michael Dagostino, DDS
External and Internal Derangement - 2 Forms of TMJ
Newsletter for July 2009
Dear Patients,
Summer has finally arrived, the Indians are in the cellar, and gardens are growing like wildfire. What a great time to live in Cleveland, Ohio!
The TMJ or temporomandibular joint is the most intricate joint in the body. This complex joint dislocates after we open approximately 22mms. It is the complexity of the joint which causes the many disease processes within and around it. There are two-distinctly different forms of TMD (temporomandibular joint and disorder). The first form is known as external derangement, and is characterized as the muscular form of TMD. Symptoms include muscle spasms and inability to open past 30 mms. The second form is known as internal derangement, and is characterized by clicking, popping, joint pain, headaches, ear ringing or ear pain, pain on opening, difficulty chewing, and open or closed lock.
In most cases the internal derangement is caused by an anterior displacement of the meniscus, or the disc which is supposed to sit on the head of the condyle ( which is the bone which sits in the joint space). Although complex, these disease processes are best treated non-surgically and readily treated at our office.
Should you or someone you love suspect they have a TMJ problem, please contact our office for a complimentary consultation.
Sincerely,
Michael W. Dagostino, DDS
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