Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
You are not alone! Did you know that more than 15 percent of American adults suffer fromchronic facial pain; such as jaw pain, jaw popping, locked jaw, difficulty chewing, headaches orearaches? Kevin Altieri in Benbrook can help you with the most appropriate and conservativetreatments for your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today at 817 294 5513 or complete the form and we willcontact you shortly.
What is TMD/TMJ?
Problems with your jaw, jaw pain and the muscles in your face that control it are known astemporomandibular disorders (TMD). Referring to the specific temporomandibular joint (TMJ),is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the bone of the skull. This joint is locatedimmediately in front of the ear on each side of the head. The muscles attached to the jaw allowthe jaw an incredible amount of movement, such as side to side and up and down.
This flexibilityallows us to chew, talk, and yawn. Each TMJ has a disc between the ball and socket. The disccushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and rotate or glide. Any problem thatprevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working properly mayresult in a painful TMJ disorder.
About Us
Dr. Kevin Altieri
Dr. Kevin Altieri graduated from Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. He is the first alumni from his high school to become a doctor. He pursued his undergraduate studies at West Texas State University, graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science in 1987. He continued his education at Baylor College of Dentistry, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1992. Dr. Altieri has practiced in the Fort Worth, Texas, area since 1994. Dr. Altieri has been named the Top Dentist in Fort Worth and as Top Doctor by Texas Monthly for the past 14 years. Dr. Altieri and his wife of 22 years, Tierni, have two children, Vincent and Nicole. His hobbies include cycling, snow skiing, photography, hiking, bass fishing, and raising longhorns. He also volunteers as a group leader at his church’s high school ministry.
Cindie – Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Cindie graduated from Tarrant County College in 1994. She is active in the Greater Fort Worth Dental Hygienists’ Society and holds the position of President in the State Dental Hygiene Association. Cindie has been with Bellaire Dental Excellence for six years. She loves working with team-oriented co-workers and a doctor who cares for his patients. She enjoys being part of a caring family practice. Cindie has been married to her wonderful husband, Tim, for over 25 years. Their daughter, Kaitlyn, is attending Oklahoma State University. When not in the office, Cindie loves to read and attend high school and college football games.
Jennifer Luera – Front Office
Jennifer was the assistant to Dr. Charles Kendall for 11 yrs. While at the peak of his retirement, Jennifer jumped on board w/ Dr. Altieri & his staff. She has stated that she couldn’t have made a better choice in being a part of a working family who continues to teach dentistry on a daily basis. It’s the best career decision she has made.
Married for 15 years, her and her husband have a daughter who plays fast pitch softball and a Son who plays baseball, she stays active with their busy schedules, loves spending time with family and friends And BIG Fans of the Texas Rangers! Go Rangers!
Vanda Bourgeois – RDH, BS
Vanda has been with our team for 4 years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, and loves everyone at our office. Her favorite part of our practice is the joyous atmosphere and jovial rapport she enjoys with Dr. Altieri and her coworkers. Vanda has the gift of edifying others, and works hard to make all our patients’ experiences at our practice enjoyable. She continues to advance her knowledge of dentistry through continuing education. Vanda has 2 brothers. When not in our office, Vanda enjoys jewelry making.
Tierni Altieri – Office Manager
Tierni has been with our practice for 24 years, and loves our patients! She completed her Bachelor Science degree in 1989. She has two children, a sixteen-year-old son and a thirteen-year-old daughter.
Treatment Options
What treatment options do I have?
Keep in mind that for most people, discomfort from TMD/TMJ will eventually go away whethertreated or not and our office encourages simple self-care non-invasive practices. If moretreatment is needed, it should be conservative and reversible. Kevin Altieri avoids, if at allpossible, treatments that cause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. If irreversible treatments arerecommended, we encourage you to gather all the information you need to make an informedbest decision and even to get a second opinion. Pain clinics in hospitals and universities are agood source of advice and second opinions for temporomandibular disorders.
Non-Invasive treatment options include:
- Using a dental articulator, Kevin Altieri will analyze your bite on an instrument thatsimulates the way your jaw works
- Bite correction with T-Scan computer-bite sensors which digitally map your bite so weknow precisely how your teeth bite, from the high spots to the low spots
- Bite Splint Therapy-If we determine that there is a cause/effect relationship between theincorrect bite of the teeth and TMJ/muscle symptoms, a bite splint could berecommended. A hard acrylic therapeutic device is fabricated to fit snugly over eitheryour upper or lower teeth creating an artificial biting surface that alleviates undue stressand force, providing for better joint and muscle function and comfort. As you wear thesplint, your bite on it will change, requiring additional adjustments to the splint. The goalis to alleviate the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders, as well as stabilize your bite onthe splint.
- Inflamyar – a compound of various natural plant based products for Treatment ofInflammation, Arthritis, Muscle Pain, Bursitis, Sprains, Bruises and Sports Injuries. Weuse this with low level laser therapy to help with sore temporomandibular joints andmuscles
- Eating soft foods
- Try to avoid extreme jaw movements, like yawning and gum chewing
- Avoid biting your nails
- Applying warm compresses to the area of pain
- Muscle stretching and relaxation exercises to perform at home
- If you have the habit of teeth grinding, Kevin Altieri can fit you with a therapeutic splintthat fits over your upper and lower teeth like a mouth sports guard. The splint is designedto ease muscle tension by reducing clenching or teeth grinding at night
More invasive treatment options include:
- A bite adjustment to correctly engineer your bite. It is a precise procedure that is alwaysdone first on models of your mouth. And before that procedure is done, a bite splint maybe prescribed to relax the muscles and allow the joints to stabilize first.
- Cortisone shots can help relieve inflammation and pain
- Fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth
- Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended
- Jaw joint replacement surgery to replace the jaw joint with an artificial implant
What are the chronic symptoms of TMD/TMJ?
- Facial pain or tenderness, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the earwhen you chew, speak, or yawn
- Limited ability to open the mouth wide
- Jaw popping
- Jaws that get “stuck” or “locked” in the open or closed mouth position
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the joint when the mouth is opened or closed
- Tired feeling in the face or neck
- Difficulty chewing
- Sudden uncomfortable feeling when biting
- Swelling on the side of the face
- Toothaches
- Consistent headaches or neck aches
- Dizziness
- Earaches
- Hearing problems
- Upper shoulder pain
- Ringing in the ears
- More women experience TMD/TMJ pain than men and is most often seen in peoplebetween 20 to 40 years of age.
What are potential causes of TMD/TMJ?
- Trauma or injury such as whiplash
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding
- Clenching
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Dislocation
- Tooth and jaw alignment
How is TMD/TMJ diagnosed?
At present, there is no widely accepted, standard test to correctly identify TMD/TMJ.Because the exact causes and symptoms are not clear, diagnosing temporomandibular disorderscan be confusing especially because other dental conditions, such as a toothache or sinusproblems, can cause similar symptoms.
In about 90 percent of the cases, says the Delta DentalPlans Association, your description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examinationof face and jaw by Kevin Altieri provides useful information for diagnosing temporomandibulardisorders. During an examination, we perform orthopedic types of tests on the TMJ such aspalpation (pressing various areas), auscultation (listening while the jaw moves), range of motiontests, and loading or joint compression tests.
These allow us to assess the current status of jointform and function. If you have joint pain, we will determine exactly which structure(s) areinvolved in order to make a diagnosis. We will also palpate the muscles of the head and neckarea to determine if they may be a source of pain.Kevin Altieri in Benbrook may also take x-rays and make a cast of your teeth to see how yourbite fits together, or may request specialized x-rays of the TM joints.
Complimentary Consultation
After a personal consultation and exam, Kevin Altieri can suggest the most appropriate therapybased on the suspected cause of your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today 817 294 5513 to schedule anappointment in Benbrook or complete the form for a complimentary consultation at Bellaire Dental Excellence
Call 817 294 5513 NOW to schedule your Complimentary Consultation or fill in the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Testimonials
"I have been a patient of Dr. Altieri and his excellent staff for as long as I can remember, and I can’t verbally express how much I appreciate their care. Whether it was as a patient or an observer, he and his staff were always so welcoming and helpful. Dr. Altieri devotes extra time with all of his patients just to catch up, and each visit will feel like you’re just part of the family they have established amongst all the staff." – Garrett Stidham
"I have always had a good experience. Great office and staff, always punctual, efficient, and painless. Highly recommend" – Jeff Anderson
"I am so thankful for the entire staff at Bellaire Dental. They make going to the dentist an enjoyable experience. Dr. Altieri takes great care of his patients, highly recommended!!" – Claudia Thompson
"Best Dentist and staff I’ve ever been to. The care and compassion you have for your patients shows in your work. I can’t thank you enough for fixing Abigail’s broken tooth, you can’t even tell it was broken." – Brenna Souza