What is "TMJ"?

"TMJ" is not a disorder or disease.  It is not a diagnosis.  The letters stand for TemporoMandibular Joint. This is the medical term for the jaw joint.  "Temporo" comes from the temporal bone of the skull which houses the socket part of the jaw joint. Mandibular refers to the mandible or lower jaw, the ends of which form the ball part of the jaw joint.  Before much was known about jaw muscle or joint disorders, this was a catch-all term for any jaw  or facial pain which was not tooth-related.

Why wont my insurance cover "TMJ"?

Most insurance companies will cover diagnostic and treatment services for specific disorders of the jaw muscles or joints.  These are called "diagnosis specific" disorders and each has a specific diagnostic code.  "TMJ" or "TMJ Syndrome" are not specific diagnostic terms.

What is a "splint" and what does it do?

A splint is an appliance which is worn at night to help decrease or inhibit night time tooth grinding and/or clenching of the teeth.  It is a hard acrylic appliance as apposed to a "mouth guard" or soft "night guard" such as the "Doctors Night Guard" which are used only to protect the teeth from wear.  The hard acrylic splint will activate a protective reflex of the jaw (called the jaw opening reflex) which will decrease the amount and intensity of any clenching or grinding which may occur during sleep.  This is the same reflex that occurs when biting into something hard unexpectedly while chewing.  The end result is less jaw muscle tension and less irritation to the jaw joints.

How long will I need to use my splint?

Splints are normally used only at night and for a period of a few months to a year.  They are designed to protect the jaw from the repetitive trauma of night time clenching or tooth grinding (bruxing), thus allowing the muscles and joint to heal.  Once this healing has taken place, the splint can be discontinued and joint and muscle health can be maintained by a simple exercise, the Rotational Opening Stretch.