Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome/Dental Health
Chiropractic care of a patient with temporomandibular
disorder and atlas subluxation Alcantara J, Plaugher G, Klemp,
DD, Salem C Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
January 2002 • Volume 25 • Number 1
This is the case
of a 41-year-old woman who sought care for complaints associated
with a cervical subluxation (i.e., atlas) and TMD.
Her complaints
began with a left ear infection that was medically treated
with oral antibiotics. At the time of chiropractic consultation,
complaints included pain at the TMJ (bilaterally), “ear
pain,” tinnitus, vertigo, altered or decreased hearing
acuity, a sensation of pressure or fullness in both ears
and headaches, which she characterized as a throbbing or
pounding. She also had a 22-year history of migraine headaches,
which were partially relieved by previous chiropractic care.
She
did not take her prescribed medications because of adverse
reactions (i.e., gastric upset and vomiting).
She was referred
to an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist who diagnosed her
with TMJ syndrome. She was referred to a dentist for a possible
malocclusion. The dentist found no occlusal abnormalities.
Medical recommendations were to apply local heat, reduce talking
and yelling and change to a soft diet. The patient reported
that her symptoms steadily worsened with these measures.
Chiropractic care consisted of specific adjustments to the
atlas subluxation resulting in improvement of the patient’s
symptoms. By the third visit, she reported significantly
greater improvement on the right than on the left side. By
the fifth visit, the patient reported that the right ear
was “perfectly fine.” With subsequent visits,
she reported continuous improvement, with only the left ear
sensation of fullness remaining.
She reported complete relief
of TMJ symptoms 2 1/2 months (9 visits) from the onset of
chiropractic care. In addition, she reported a decrease in
the frequency and severity of her headaches. Before chiropractic
care, she related a frequency of 1 to 2 migraine attacks
per month. At 1-year follow-up she had experienced no headache
symptoms for a period of 9 months. Her TMJ complaints had
completely resolved.
Chiropractic/Dental cotreatment of lumbosacral pain with
temporomandibular (TMJ) joint involvement. Chinappi AS and
Getzoff H Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Vol. 19 No. 9 November/December 1996.
This is the case of a
33-year old woman with centralized lumbosacral pain. After
30 months of chiropractic care she was still experiencing
some lower back pain and agreed to see an orthodontist who
diagnosed a “Class 11 malocclusion
with significant loss of vertical dimension, characteristic
of bilateral posterior bite collapse.”
From the abstract:
The cotreatment approach, which integrated
dental orthopedic and craniochiropractic care, ameliorated
the pain and improved head, jaw, neck and back function. The
position of the jaw, head and vertebral column, including the
lumbar region, are intricately linked. Orthodontic treatment
improved the position of the mandible, which in turn enabled
the body to respond to chiropractic care.
The relationship between
impacted wisdom teeth, headaches, and persistent cervical fixations.
Dawson L, Frolund S. The European Journal of Chiropractic 1992;
40:1-6.
Author’s Abstract:
The study group of 100 patients with
one or more impacted wisdom teeth was selected by viewing each
patient’s
antero-posterior and lateral cervical x-rays. A control group
of 100 subjects without impacted wisdom teeth was chosen
in a similar manner….after statistical analysis of
the data…a significant relationship was demonstrated
between impacted wisdom teeth and headaches, headaches and
persistent cervical fixations and impacted wisdom teeth and
persistent cervical fixations.
A number of instances are cited
in which recurrent cervical VSC with concomitant headache
were resolved following extraction of an impacted wisdom
tooth.
The Dental-Chiropractic cotreatment of structural disorders
of the jaw and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Chinappi
AS JR; Getzoff H. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics 1995; 18(7): 476-8.
The position of the jaw, head
and neck are intricately linked. The acute symptoms experienced
during the initial dental treatment phase were caused by the
inability of the head and neck to adapt to maxillary and mandibular
changes.
Chiropractic treatments enabled the body to respond
positively to the dental changes. As the mandibular position
improved, further improvements were indicated by physical testing
and X-rays.
Forward head posture: Its structural and functional
influence on the stomatognathic system, a conceptual study.
Gonzalez H, Mann A. J Craniomandib Pract 1996; 14:71-80.
There
is a correlation between forward head posture and TMJ dysfunction.
Birth
induced TMJ dysfunction: the most common cause of breastfeeding
difficulties. Arcadi, VC, Sherman Oaks, CA, Proceedings of
the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics. Oct,
1993 Palm Springs, CA. Pub. International Chiropractors Assoc.,
Arlington, VA.
From the abstract:
In a clinical setting, 1,000 newborns were
observed and treated (ages one hour to 21 days), for failure
and/or difficulty with breast-feeding. In 800 or 80%, birth
induced Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction was found to be
the cause. In all cases, the babies were treated with chiropractic
cranial and spinal adjustments, with excellent results in 99%
of the cases. This paper discusses the basic clinical findings
and related newborn discomforts and associated symptomatology.
The
above babies were all born with a lay midwife and without drugs
in a calm, warm, peaceful setting. All babies were born vaginally.
All babies were examined and in all cases a cranial distortion
was present due to the birth process which produced a TMJ dysfunction.
The TMJ dysfunction interrupted proper suckling mechanics and
caused severe headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances.
A
multi-faceted chiropractic approach to attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder: a case report. Barnes, T.A. International Review
of Chiropractic Jan/Feb 1995 pp.41-43.
From the abstract:
An 11-year-old boy with medically diagnosed
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been a patient
and student at the Kentuckiana Children’s Center for
three years...His case shows a history of early disruptive
experience, repeated ear infections, consistent temporomandibular
joint dysfunction, heavy metal intoxication, food allergy,
environmental sensitivity and multiple levels of biomechanical
alteration. This report emphasizes the need for care in all
aspects of the structural, chemical and mental triangle of
health in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“He
has improved academically and has advanced to the next grade
level...he recognizes that he has control over his behavior
and there is hope that he will be mainstreamed back into a
regular public school setting soon...his mother says she notices
improvement in his attention span and temper.
Copyright 2004
Koren Publications, Inc. & Tedd Koren,
D.C.