Scar Tissue TMJ

What are all the ways you can detect scar tissue in the TMJ
of a TMD patient?

Joseph wrote:
> What are all the ways you can detect scar tissue in the
> TMJ of a TMD patient?
>

Most derangements of the TMJ itself are visualized
with MRI, CAT scans. There other tomographic studies
that can be done as well. Please note that the
majority of patients with so-called TMD disease have
no derangements of the joint itself. Most are
suffering from muscle spasm, usually of the elevator
muscles of the mandible.

Steve

>From: Steven Bornfeld

>Most are suffering from muscle spasm, usually of the
>elevator muscles of the mandible.
>

What's causing and sustaining the spasms IYO?

DC

KyroDoc wrote:
>>From: Steven Bornfeld
>
>
>>Most are suffering from muscle spasm, usually of the
>>elevator muscles of the mandible.
>>
>
>
> What's causing and sustaining the spasms IYO?
>
> DC

Generally chronic grinding and clenching, usually
most prevalent during sleep.

Steve

Steven Bornfeld <dentaltwinnospam@earthlink.net> wrote:

: KyroDoc wrote:
: >>From: Steven Bornfeld
: >
: >
: >>Most are suffering from muscle spasm, usually of the
: >>elevator muscles of the mandible.
: >>
: >
: >
: > What's causing and sustaining the spasms IYO?
: >
: > DC

: Generally chronic grinding and clenching, usually
: most prevalent during sleep.

Yes. Bruxism aggravates TMD -- causing pain upon awakening,
etc. In some cases, the TM joint will actually swell into
the anterior ear canal, even causing ear pain.

Certain things aggravate bruxism: alcohol, nicotine, stress,
etc. You can find articles about research into bruxism in
various medical journals on OVID, etc.

Emma