Unlocking the mystery
Practitioners, patients mouth their concern over puzzling jaw dysfunction
By Kevin Williams, Camera Staff Writer
DATE 07/30/2001

The following are segments of an article written by the Daily Camera with quotes from Dr. Mark Birnbach concerning the disorder known as TMJ (temporomandibular dysfunction)

The symptoms — jaw pain, locking, popping or clicking of the joint, headaches, dizziness, earaches or ringing ears, clenching/grinding of teeth, fatigue, neck, shoulder and back pain, to name a few — are so chameleon-like that they are often mistaken for sinus, inner ear, or other facial problems. TMJ sufferers may have only a few symptoms, or the entire combination. No one knows for sure what causes the condition, but there is a general consensus from practitioners on the contributing factors: head trauma, often from car crashes, bruxism (teeth grinding), malocclusion ( a bad bite), orthodontics and stress.

While common, it is still little known and often mis-diagnosed, says Mark Birnbach, a Boulder dentist who has been practicing for 25 years. "It's not something that's out in the public realm," he said.

But practitioners who deal regularly with TMJ know that the structures — bones, joints and muscles — involved in opening and closing the mouth are very specialized; if any of them are off, the whole thing will be affected. "If you had a pebble in your shoe and you don't get rid of it, that causes a structural problem throughout the entire body." Birnbach says, explaining how a problem with the joint could affect parts of the body not normally associated with the jaw.

...Birnbach...says most of his patients' problems result from trauma.

For many people splints work, for some individuals it may take a little more, like the combination of a splint and massage therapy. Many people turn to chiropractic as well, especially if the problem tends to be more in the neck than the jaw joint.

Regardless of their discipline (healthcare professionals), all agree that surgery — in which the joints are partially or totally replaced — should be reserved aas a last option.

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