TMJ Services

Bruxism is the technical and scientific term used to describe clenching and/or grinding of the teeth due to involuntary motion of the lower jaw. Bruxism can occur during the day, Awake Bruxism (AB) or at night, Night Bruxism (NB). Bruxism is very common, and it is estimated that roughly half the population bruxes and most […]

This is the 5th in a series of articles on common misinformation and misconceptions about treating TMD. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed in the 21st Century. According to one study in 2020, “During 2015–2018, 13.2% of Americans aged 18 and over reported taking antidepressant medication in the past 30 days. Antidepressant use was higher among women than men […]

The consensus among everyone, the patients, the physicians, and the dentists, who deal with the symptoms of TMD/TMJ is that “Nothing Works”.  I recently had a conversation with a very well known and highly professionally placed orthodontist who quoted his orthodontic professor and mentor as saying: “The best way to treat a TMJ patient is […]

This is the fourth article in a series addressing misinformation regarding TMD/TMJ. Muscle relaxants are frequently prescribed by medial and dental providers for patients with TMD.  The generic name for muscle relaxants is Cyclopenzaprine and the most common brand name is Flexaril.  The fist thing to know about muscle relaxants is that they do not […]

This is the third article in a series addressing misinformation regarding TMD/TMJ. Bruxism is the technical term for clenching and grinding the teeth.  No doubt clenching and grinding the teeth is the most common circumstance related to TMD.  In my experience, 80% of patients who present to our practice with TMD clench and grind their […]

This is the second article in a series addressing misinformation regarding TMD/TMJ. Botox is an injectable pharmaceutical derived from Clostridium Botulinum Type A Neurotoxin.  Clostridium Botulinum is a bacteria which produces its neurotoxin primarily in environments without oxygen. (Anaerobic).  This neurotoxin when ingested, even in small quantities, can cause respiratory failure, body paralysis, and death. […]

This article is first in a series directed specifically to patients diagnosed with TMD or think they may have TMD.  It is now culturally common for people to be concerned about misinformation.  When I was a young lad, my mother on occasion would say: “Don’t lie to me Tony.” when she caught me in a […]

I write this series of articles for patients, not doctors.  I intend to view TMD from the patient’s point of view because it is the patients who are most confused regarding this problem they call “TMJ”.  There are many reasons why they are confused.  The first and greatest reason patients are confused is because the […]

I write this series of articles for patients, not doctors.  I intend to view TMD from the patient’s point of view because it is the patients who are most confused regarding this problem they call “TMJ”.  There are many reasons why they are confused.  The first and greatest reason patients are confused is because the […]

As a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with 46 years of surgical experience and over 2000 surgical procedures of various kinds performed specifically upon the temporomandibular joint, I feel well qualified to comment on TMD and its relationship to surgical intervention.  Not only have I personally performed each variant of TMJ surgery many times […]