Chapel Hill Advanced Dentistry with Bilal Saib, DDS
Dentistry without Judgement
TMJ & TMD TMJ stand for Temporo Mandibular Joint. It is the joint that connects our lower jaw to the base of the skull. The TM joint is as magnificent as it is unique. It is the only joint in the body that is designed to dislocate and relocate at will. What makes it magnificent also maks it fragile. With 5 muscle groups controlling each joint and the necessity of the two joints working together in harmony a must, no wonder it falls prey to disfunction or TMD. Treating TMD in theory is simple. The rules are: 1. Balance the bite so that both joints share the same load. 2. Make the two joints work in complete harmony during different conditions. 3. Find the most comfortable place for each joint and then find the one for the bite, and make sure that they are the same. Meaning, keep both joint and teeth happy. Treating TMD in real life can be very tricky. In most cases, just the process of starting helps our paients tremendously. But some cases take months to get the comfortable place. We will work with you according to your individual needs. |
