TMD Patient Testimonial - K. R. 4/16/2009
I went to visit Dr. Lowder because I was having terrible headaches every morning in my jaws and temple area. He told me that I was grinding my teeth at night and made a splint to put on my upper front teeth. Honestly, I didn’t think this would help because I didn’t think I was grinding my teeth but I figured it couldn’t hurt since I was desperate for some relief. Oh my, was I wrong. The splint helped immensely! No more headaches! He was absolutely right! I have been wearing my splint for over two years now and will not go to bed without it. Thanks to Dr. Lowder! ~K.R.
TMD Patient Testimonial
As a young teenager, I had 4 teeth extracted (two molars on top and two on bottom) because of decay. Forty years ago little thought was given to the effect those extractions would have on the alignment of my teeth. In my twenties, my "adult" dentist suggested we "bridge" the vacant spaces in my lower teeth. The top teeth had shifted enough to close the gap. Even though the back two lower molars had "laid over" significantly, nothing was done to realign them so the bridge went in over them as they were. In my twenties, I began to experience excruciating joint pain----popping, locking-----to the point I would almost faint! I sought the help of a local dentist who prescribed pain pills and muscle relaxers. After a couple of weeks of not being able to function (cook meals for my family, do laundry, clean house, etc. because all I could do was sleep!) I went back to him and was told "If I didn't want to follow his regiment, I needed to find another dentist!" So I did! With the new dentist, I was sent to a gum specialist, who sent me to an oral surgeon, who sent me to an orthodontist. He made me a splint. Within a week, I was completely locked up----couldn't open my mouth! He sent me to a physical therapist. After six weeks, it was determined that the splint needed adjustment!! Strangely, I found that when I left the splint out for 24 hours, my jaw would release and I could open my mouth! But I stayed with the orthodontist because he adjusted my splint, made new splints, upper splints, lower splints, etc. etc. and got me a little more comfortable. After five years of that regiment, I was told that without extensive oral surgery, braces, and gum surgery (brought on by having the braces!) there was nothing more he could do. As for me, I still had no long term relief. Locking, popping, debilitating headaches, neck stiffness and tenderness in my jaw joint to the point it was excruciating to kiss my husband continued to plague me for many years.
As I talked with a friend one day, she commented that I looked like I was in a lot of pain. I began to tell her my story and she immediately recommended I go to see Dr. Tom Lowder. The day I walked into his office, my quality of life began to change.
It was July 1, 2003. I was 50 years old!!!! I found someone who was very compassionate, caring, and knowledgeable and explained to me why former treatments had not been successful. My journey began with exercises I did at home, new kinds of splints, a communication with an orthodontist and staff that truly understood and eighteen months later finding healing taking place!!!!!!! For the first time in over 30 years, I was free of the locking, popping, headaches, neck stiffness, PAIN, tenderness and I could kiss my husband passionately once again!!!!! I have been TMD symptom free for 3 & 1/2 years! ~ V.W.
Major Contributing Factor in the Excessive Wear of the Enamel of the Front Teeth
Problem: All of us rub and grind our teeth together during the deeper phase of sleep commonly referred to as the “Rapid Eye Phase” of sleep. During this rubbing and grinding of the teeth (called Parafunctional Nocturnal Bruxism) the angles of the front teeth should be complimentary to the anatomically established angle that the jaw joints must travel as the jaw is opened and shifted from side to side in order to separate the jaw teeth during this process.
If the angles are properly coordinated the front teeth (cuspids and incisors) will force the jaw teeth (bicuspids and molars to separate immediately and the heavy closing muscles of the jaw are relatively relaxed during this process.
However, if the angles are not coordinated and the jaw teeth drag across each other, the normal force range of pressure between the teeth 50-150 psi is fulcrumed into the 2,000 to 4,000 psi range while asleep. These increased forces are well beyond the physiologic limit of the tissues of the body to withstand without developing symptoms (such as enamel wear, muscle soreness with pain, headaches, and breakdown of the related structures such as the cartilage, ligaments and tendons of the jaw joints (temporomandibular joints).
The most visible evidence of this lack of coordination between the angles and the resulting lack of separation of the jaw teeth during the sleep-time grinding is most frequently seen as the wearing and chipping of the enamel of the front teeth (see the photos on opposite page). If the angles of the front teeth are to steep in relationship to the angle of the jaw joint, the teeth are frequently cut off an angle corresponding to the angle of the joint movement.