Temporomandibular joint disorder affects millions of Americans each year. It occurs when muscles of the jaw, face, or neck are out of alignment and spasming. If you are one of the many people in Ellisville, Ballwin, and West County affected by TMJ dysfunction, relief could be as close as a visit to Dr. Andrew Mitchell or Dr. Scott Mitchell.

Symptoms of TMJ dysfunction

• Frequent headaches
• Clenching or grinding
• Clicking jaws
• Clogged or stuffy ears
• Dizzy spells
• Facial pain
• Jaw locks open or closed
• Pain behind the eyes
• Ringing in the ears
• Shoulder or arm pain

Treatment begins with correct diagnosis

Isolating root issues of the problem can be very challenging because of the multitude of symptoms. A patient’s indications may be brought on by stress or by traumatic injury. Our dentists are uniquely equipped to diagnose and treat the disorder with an advanced computer program. The software does three things. It tracks jaw movement, how far the jaw opens and any deviation of the jaw as it opens. It also measures the level of muscle activity and spasm to help determine the level of unhealthy activity. It also measures the level of abnormal noise in the joint which helps determine how serious the noise issue is. Using this information, the doctors can more accurately diagnose and treat the cause of the problem.

The diagnostic procedure is noninvasive and causes no discomfort. It operates much like the electrocardiogram and stress test a physician would use to help him isolate, diagnose, and treat a patient who is having chest and arm pain when the real problem is with his heart. Once the patient is symptom and pain-free, teeth can be moved into this stable position using orthodontics, crowns, or other techniques.

Our practice has treated patients with TMJ dysfunction successfully for over 30 years. Every TMJ dysfunction situation is unique. The doctors listen and carefully evaluate each case in order to diagnose and develop the best plan to treat the problem.

For effective treatment of TMJ dysfunction in the Ellisville, Ballwin, and West County area, call
Dr. Andrew Mitchell on (636) 227-6945 or Dr.Scott Mitchell on (636) 227-0400.