Does your face hurt? Is it your jaw joint? Is it the muscles? Is it the nerves? What about headaches?
"TMJ" (more accurately defined as Temperomandibular Disorder, or TMD) is often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and mismanaged. Musculoskeletal conditions are often a result of acute or chronic injuries affecting multiple tissue types (muscle, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, synovium, etc.). However, a true articular (joint) injury must be delineated from other types of facial pain and dysfunction to be labeled "TMJ".
Having treated over 1000 TMJ patients and performed over 200 TMJ surgeries, Dr. Jacks will help you understand your diagnosis.
Common diagnoses include:
- Myalgia of the muscles of mastication (pain from the muscles that support chewing)
- Neuralgia of the craniofacial nerves (nerves specific to the Head and Neck)
- Muscular dystonias (Head and Neck muscles that spasm frequently)
- Headaches (Tension, Migraine, Cluster, etc.)
- TMJ capsulitis (extra-articular or immediately outside the joint space)
- TMJ internal derangement (intra-articular or a true orthopedic/joint problem)
In Lane County, Dr. Jacks is the only Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive training and experience in treating TMJ/TMD that will see you.
Dr. Jacks will discuss the specifics of your case:
- Review your health history.
- Perform a clinical exam and review any necessary x-rays.
- Review treatment options to include minimally invasive surgery, medications, physical therapy, etc.
- If a procedure is warranted, discussion of anesthesia preference, as well as Pre-op and Post-op details.
- Scheduling and fees.