Treatment of the temporomandibular joint

Symptoms and signs of temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscle dysfunction

Pain, clicks and sounds in the jaw joint area, difficulty opening or closing the jaw, unstable bite, pain in the chewing muscles, most often appear between the ages of twenty and forty. This is temporomandibular dysfunction, a set of symptoms with which many patients come to our clinic.

At the Apolonija Polyclinic, we have been successfully treating disorders of the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles for many years. We apply a combination of traditional and modern approaches and therapeutic concepts from several European schools of functional diagnostics and therapy.

At the Apolonija Polyclinic, we follow a temporomandibular joint treatment protocol that consists of 4 steps:

• detailed diagnostics
• procedures for removing functional stimuli and reducing system excitability
• short-term relaxation therapy
• long-term corrective and reconstructive therapy

The basis of treatment is a diagnostic assessment of the cause of the patient’s problems. In addition to clinical examinations, which are the basis of successful treatment, Modjaw, currently the most accurate and advanced software diagnostics, is often used in the diagnosis of jaw joint dysfunction.

Unlike traditional articulators that are based on average joint parameter values, the Modjaw digital articulator is a revolutionary system that allows us to obtain individual values ​​for our patient’s temporomandibular joint. It enables dynamic analysis of jaw movements in real time. We want to find the ideal way for our patients to open and close their mouths and move their jaws. With the Modjaw system, we can more easily and precisely achieve the patient’s individual bite.

In the treatment process, the mechanisms and causes of painful conditions are determined and the patient’s calmest and most relaxed position of the jaw in the bite is reconstructed. Achieving such a position leads to stabilization and calming of symptoms, which is the primary goal to be achieved.

Once a pain-free state is established, the next goal is to maintain that state permanently. This is achieved in various ways, depending on the condition of each patient’s masticatory system and is completely individual.

Treatment of temporomandibular dysfunctions in the Apolonija vodi polyclinic Associate Professor Tomislav Lauc, Ph.D. , whose professional areas of work and training include, among other things, the treatment of painful jaw conditions.

Clicks and sounds in the jaw joint area

Various sounds and clicks, crackling, popping or skipping in the temporomandibular joint are very widespread and common in people who have temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
They are divided into crushing sounds (crepitations) and clicks, which arise as a result of the displacement of the articular plates. Not every sound is a sign of danger, however, if they are accompanied by pain and difficulty opening the jaw, it will certainly require therapy.

Bruxism or teeth grinding

If you suffer from bruxism, i.e. unconscious clenching of the jaw and frequent grinding or clenching of the teeth, you belong to a broad group of patients with temporomandibular dysfunction.
Bruxism often occurs during sleep, so a person is sometimes unaware that they are grinding their teeth.