FW: [TMJ-LifeSupport] Digest Number 1405

[Guest guest]

This is from a newsletter on tmj; snipped.

One can sign up for the monthly newsletter at TMJPatient.com

After signing up there is a lengthy questioneer; but one does not need to

give out this personal info to receive the newsletter; unless one wants to

of course.

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.... 3 RULES OF TMJ TREATMENT

Rule #1 - Take control of your own

treatment.

Rule #2 - Focus on reversible and non-

invasive procedures. Go easy and keep it

simple.

Rule #3 - Obtain several independent

opinions before agreeing to invasive and

non-reversible procedures...

Survey Results

What are the top rated causes of TMJ.

Survey results show the following:

#1 - Clenching or grinding of the teeth

#2 - Stress

#3 - Trauma

#4 - Occlusion

#5 - Whiplash

#6 - Orthodontics/Braces

Q. What do stress, trauma, occlusion,

whiplash and orthodontics have in common?

A. Each can cause or increase teeth

clenching and grinding (bruxing)

resulting in TMJ symptoms.

Stress, trauma, occlusion, whiplash, and

orthodontics are all initiators of an

elevated bruxing level. Both TMJ injury

and/or bruxing may be responsible for

initial TMJ symptoms.

Once bruxism is started, bruxing

perpetuate the TMJ symptoms and the

associated pain. As pain increases,

bruxing also increases, making the

problem worse. A bruxing pain cycle

develops perpetuating the TMJ problem.

The pain cycle continues until external

intervention acts to decrease the bruxing

behavior...

FACT: Many TMJ patients have been injured

for life, through non-reversible

procedures that were unnecessary and

ineffective.

FACT: Nightguards, splints, appliances do

not control nighttime clenching and

grinding habits...

Two great tragedies have occurred in the treatment of

TMJ. The first was the implant disaster. This

disaster has been well documented and publicized.

Unfortunately over 100,000 TMJ patients became

victims before the problem was identified.

For more information about TMJ implants:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/tmjupdate.html

http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/jawimpl.html

http://www.priory.com/den/implant2.htm

The second TMJ disaster has yet to be widely

publicized. It is the pain and suffering caused by

unnecessary and irreversible procedures that have

been performed on TMJ patients. Everything from

reconstruction to joint replacement. The number of

TMJ patients affected has yet to be determined...

" Obtain several independent opinions before agreeing

to invasive and non-reversible procedures. "

The key here is SEVERAL and INDEPENDENT.

You will want to talk with at least 3

doctors/specialist

before agreeing to invasive care. It will be both time

and money well spent. The work they will perform

will be irreversible in most cases.

The second item is INDEPENDENT opinions. Go

to someone other then who the first doctor

recommends. Seek out unrelated and unaffiliated

practitioners for independent evaluation and opinion...

Patients who control bruxing before invasive care

will have better results. Controlling bruxing will

simplify, decrease or eliminate the need for invasive

care.

Bruxism control should be continued through

invasive care and post recovery as directed by

attending doctor.

If a patient does NOT control clenching and grinding

before invasive care, they will clench and grind after

invasive care and retain symptoms being caused or

perpetuated by bruxing. Bruxism can defeat required

invasive care properly executed...

TMJ implants failed in TMJ patients, because of

bruxing.

Product and material testing was originally performed

in

animals, specifically dogs. The testing that was

performed should have provided adequate protection

to the consumer. The FDA accepted the material

and animal testing as substantial equivalence to other

implants successfully being used. The error by both

the primary researchers and the FDA was not

considering, or

underestimating: 1) the frequency of bruxism in the

TMJ patient population, 2) the effects of bruxism

on the TMJ implants, and 3) the force generated

during bruxing.

This same underestimation of the effects of bruxism

continues today. TMJ patients are treated everyday

without any thought to controlling bruxing. TMJ

patients

routinely receive unnecessary and inappropriate

treatment.

We will never know how many of the 100,000 implant

victims could have avoided tragedy if they had

controlled bruxism before and after surgery.

Or how many could have avoided surgery altogether...