TMJ
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What is TMJ?
Everyone has TMJ — in fact, we each have two. TMJ is your TemporoMandibular Joint. Your lower jaw sits within sockets in front of your ears, and within each of these hinges there is a disc.
What people actually mean when they talk about TMJ is TMJD: temporomandibular joint dysfunction. This is a condition where the jaw bone is not aligned properly and the disc on one or both sides has slipped out of place and is not functioning normally. TMJD often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. You may not even be aware that the disc has slipped.
Pain in the actual jaw joint is not always present, but it may appear as "referred pain" in other areas. Just as a slipped disc in your back can cause pain and problems in the surrounding areas (such as aching hips or numbness in the legs), TMJD can affect the surrounding areas as well. See the list of symptoms to the right.
Children can experience TMJ dysfunction too. One of Dr. Rutrick's young patients (click to open case study in a pop-up window) had an open bite from sucking a pacifier, and her jaw shifted to one side when she spoke — the result of a dislocated disc.
Treatment
 TMJD does not mean surgery. Dr. Rutrick's nonsurgical TMJD protocol has evolved over more than 20 years of successfully treating a host of different manifestations of TMJD. Our goal is to relieve the pain and to stabilize the jaw joint to its normal functioning relationship. A full and thorough evaluation includes joint imaging that shows the disc and soft tissue as well as bone positions (corrected tomography as well as bilateral MRIs of the TMJs with coronal and sagittal views), and then custom appliances are used to realign the jaw. Out of more than a thousand patients, only a handful have required surgery.
While treatment is similar in many cases, no two patients are exactly the same. Dr. Rutrick's protocol is individualized and focused on the particular needs presented.
Insurance
Although there is no guarantee that insurance will pay for treatment, we will provide all of the necessary paperwork for your claim. As long as there are no TMJ exclusions in your medical policy and your deductible has been met, insurance should pay for at least a portion of your treatment.
Medical insurance policyholders have been reimbursed for the nonsurgical treatment provided by Dr. Rutrick after submitting claims with the appropriate medical (not dental) billing codes when it has been confirmed that there is malalignment of the craniomandibular articulation complex (the TMJ housing) and proper documentation is supplied.
Our experienced staff can assist you.
Effective Relief
If you are experiencing TMJD symptoms — especially if you have already been through the "usual and customary" treaments without relief — please call to schedule an appointment for evaluation.
SLEEP DISORDERS
- Do you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep? Are you taking sleep aids or prescription medication to assist you in sleeping?
- Do you snore? Does you spouse/bed partner have to leave the room because your snoring keeps them awake?
- Do you wake up tired? Do you find yourself dozing off during the day?
- Are you suffering from depression due to lack of energy and fatigue?
Dr. Rutrick works closely with ENT specialists to determine the most practical protocol for each patient's specific needs. Utilizing non-invasive sleep appliances, he assists patients with snoring and airway problems to relieve sleep deprivation.
Sleep better and become more productive! Start by scheduling an evaluation.
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