TMJ Disorder Treatment/ALF Appliances
What is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ, also known as the temporomandibular joint, is a joint found on both sides of the head that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull. This joint enables for mechanical movement of the jaw to allow for eating and speaking. With TMJ Disorder, the TMJ is not properly aligned, leading to many problems, including upper and lower back pain, pain and ringing of the ears, jaw and facial pain, and popping and clicking sounds of the TMJ.
It may be TMJ disorder! A 56 year-old woman, who just completed her orthodontic treatment, came in for a consultation regarding her symptoms. Her chief complaints were vertigo, which was triggered when she moves her head from side to side and dizziness. This made her stop driving.
Other symptoms in this case were:
Loss of balance
Pain on the left side of the neck and jaw
Frequent stiff neck and shoulders
Clicking on the left TMJ
Buzzing and ringing in the ears
Tingling and numbness of the hands
Upper and lower back pain
Case Study:
Is your Misaligned Bite Causing Your Vertigo and Dizziness?
How is TMJ Disorder Treated?
Traditionally, TMJ disorder is treated with the use of bite guards or splints. These rarely correct the root cause of the problem, which is a jaw misalignment.
Dr. Vann treats her TMJ patients with Advanced Lightwire Functional Appliances, also known as ALF. It is an modern orthopedic/orthodontic device, similar to a wire retainer, that effectively treats the root cause of TMJ Disorder. ALF works by correcting the misalignment of the upper and lower jaws.
Most people with symptoms of TMJ disorder are unaware that the misalignment of their upper and lower jaws may be the culprit. There are 7 types of jaw misalignments that cause TMJ disorder. To determine what type of jaw misalignment you have, Dr. Vann will perform a very thorough analysis of the misalignment of your upper and lower jaws and take the necessary x-rays to assess your case. Dr. Vann will design the ALF specifically according to your jaw problem. By doing so, the ALF can correct many types of structural distortions of the jaw.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMJ disorder, please contact our office.
Case Study: Grinding My life Away - My Experience with TMJ Disorder
In 1993, I was constantly experiencing pain in my right hip that radiated into my right ovary area. No one could explain why I was experiencing so much pain. I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and was told that I would eventually need a complete hysterectomy if the pain intensified; I was 35 years old at the time.
The pain persisted, and in August 2000 I was introduced to a colleague who determined that my bite was causing these painful problems due to unleveled skull bones. I underwent treatment using the Alternative Lightwire Functional (ALF) appliance in my mouth, to level my skull bones. Thankfully, wearing the ALF is hardly noticeable. I completed the treatment in 13 months, which successfully treated my symptoms and pain.
The ALF is a conservative treatment that gently moves the jawbones and also corrects cranial distortions that can cause chronic headaches, neck, shoulder, hip and back pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo and dizziness, motion sickness, teeth grinding and clenching, clicking sounds in the jaw, breathing problems, pain in the ears, face and neck, and Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD)
What is ALF?
ALF appliances catalyze changes within muscle functionality to spur the optimal results across posterity, ultimately treating TMJ disorder as well as other dental health issues ranging from occlusion to palate/arch development and even airway reshaping.
Most people with symptoms of TMJ disorder are unaware that the root cause of these problems is the misalignment of the upper and lower jaws. The treatment is accomplished by using the Advance Lightwire Functional Appliances (ALF). The ALF is a dental appliance similar to a wire retainer that gently applies force to the upper and lower jaws to realign them. Dr. Vann will design the ALF specifically according to your jaw problem. By doing so, the ALF can correct many types of structural distortions of the jaw. The ALF may also be used in the treatment of problems in other parts of the body such as the upper neck and shoulders and even the lower back, given the effect that misaligned jaws can have on the rest of your body.
Gallery
This nine-year-old patient had her upper and lower jaws moved forward with the ALF appliances and used the reverse full-face mask.
This seven-year-old had two types of jaw problems: her upper and lower jaws were elevated to the right and they were retruded (pushed back). Her right eye socket was elevated to the right and the bite plane was elevated to the right as well. Without treatment, she would likely have developed breathing problems and sleep apnea later in life.
After ALF treatment, the right eye, ears, lip line, eyes, and bite plane are all level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I grind my teeth a lot. How do I find out if I have TMJ?
A. Consult your family physician or a neurologist.
Q. Is this a surgical procedure?
A. No, this corrective treatment is 100% surgery free.
Q. Is it as effective as the TMD surgical procedure?
A. Yes, but without anesthetics and a high surgery bill.
Q. I have braces, doesn’t that work like the ALF?
A. No, braces only align the teeth; braces do not address the unleveled skull bone issue, which may cause painful symptoms.
Q. How long does this process take?
A. 10 to 24 months, depending on how severe your bite problem is.
Q. Does it hurt?
A. No, it is not uncomfortable.
