TMJ Treatment 
Monday, January 14, 2008, 10:08 AM - Diagnostic Science, General Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Oral Imaging
Do you wake up in the morning with head, neck or jaw pain? You may have a disorder shared by more than 10 million Americans, most of them women. News 8’s Dentist, Dr. Linda Niessen looks at symptoms and new treatment for T-M-J in today’s Dental Health Check.

T-M-J refers to the temporomandibular joint in the jaw. Sharon Daily has searched for 15 years for relief from facial pain related to T-M-J.

"Severe headaches, just severe headaches. And all around the joints they were very tender. A lot of muscular pain and nerve pain. There was a sense of burning, so that you didn’t even want to put on make-up," said Sharon.

Years ago, doctors operated on the jaw joints of patients like Sharon. But most surgeries were unsuccessful. They often made the disorder worse. "You just have to learn to become your own advocate really," Sharon added.

Today, dentists and physicians treat the problem, temporomandibular dysfunction, also called T-M-D, with new medications and non-surgical therapy.

Orofacial Pain Specialist Dr. Richard Riggs says, "Patients that we see, it’s a variable in types of treatment. Some people we may just put on exercises. Some people may just use medications to improve sleep parameters. Some people may need appliances." Dr. Richard Riggs is a dentist who is board certified in orofacial pain.

Dr. Riggs continued, "The most common cause I would say would have to be sleep deprivation, sleep disorders."

You shouldn’t have to suffer from chronic facial pain. New treatments can drastically improve the quality of your life. And a dentist with extensive special training in orofacial pain is the best place to start.

For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Note: Both medical and dental insurance may cover the costs of treatment.

Website information:
www.tmj.org
The non-profit TMJ Association.
www.aaop.org
The American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

Dr. Richard Riggs, D.D.S.
Board Certified in treatment of Orofacial Pain
670 West Arapaho, Suite 5
Richardson, TX 972-437-9177

(Click image for a larger animation)
Common symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders:

  • Pain around the ear
  • Tenderness of the jaw
  • Locking of the jaw
  • Clicking or popping when opening the mouth
  • Headaches and neck aches








STORY: TMJ Treatment
SCRIPT # 832 SHOOT: 12/12/07
AIRDATE: Monday, Jan. 14, 2007
DHC MASTER #18 Timecode: 56:50 SOVT: 1:34



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