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From: cetron@utah-cs.UUCP (Edward J Cetron)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: TMJ- temporo-mandibular-joint syndrome
Message-ID: <3987@utah-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Nov-86 15:51:01 EST
Article-I.D.: utah-cs.3987
Posted: Sat Nov  1 15:51:01 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Nov-86 23:29:11 EST
References: <119@helm.UUCP> <9800028@uiucdcsb> <1638@ncoast.UUCP> <912@sigma.UUCP>
Reply-To: cetron@utah-cs.UUCP (Edward J Cetron)
Organization: Center for Engineering Design, Univ of Utah
Lines: 25


	My wife had TMJ quite bad for several years, the bottom line
(after much research, pain, consultations....)

	1. In many cases (but NOT all) there are no major secondary problems
(like your jaw falling off :-) ) except the pain.
	2. Stress has a LOT to do with exacerbating the pain/problem.
	3. In many cases learning to relax the jaw muscles will help immensely.
	4. Grind your teeth (such as at night) or clenching your teeth are very
bad.
	5. To counter act 4., my wife used a 'bite plate' or some such to keep
her from grinding her teeth.
	6. I have heard of muscle relaxants being perscribed also to relieve
4. though she didn't need any.
	7. In serious malformation cases, surgery is indicated.
	
	the good news is:

	1. there are several 'non-quack' DDS's specializing in TMJ
	2. since she stopped grinding her teeth, there has been very little
pain.

-ed cetron
center for biomedical design
Univ of Utah