DIAGNOSIS
Finding out the true source of pain and symptoms is critically important. Diagnosis is the key factor for the treatment. Without accurate diagnosis, no successful treatment is expected.
Healthcare practitioners are utilizing various diagnostic methods to find out the accurate souorces and causes of ailment, and are vary from patient to patient and from office to office. Followings are the part of diagnostic procedures TMJ-dentists may utilize: medical-dental history, clinical examination, dental examination, orthopedic jaw casts, occlusion analysis, diagnostic splint, cranial nerve screening, skeletal morphology and posture evaluation, muscle palpation, bio-mechanical functional test, TM joint x-ray, MRI, electro-diagnostics (jaw joint vibration analysis, jaw tracking analysis), listening to the jaw joint sound, jaw and neck range of motion, diagnostic photograph, TMJ scale, diagnostic anesthetic block, etc.
However, even all these modern diagnostic procedures and observation, often times, it do not necessarily provide doctors an accurate diagnostic information or clear treatment protocol. Disorders can be frequently unexplained or misdiagnosed and therefore, when patients have incorrect diagnosis and treat it accordingly, unsuccessfully treated or left un-treated patients very well may end up traveling from office to office while they are labeled as hypochondriacs and told "it's all in your head".
The following is one of a typical patient's experiences when dealing with chronic pain and TMJ disorders:
"I am a 45 year old female. I found your website while I was searching on google for some diagnosis for all my problems. I know I have TMJ as my jaw has been popping and clicking for as long as I can remember. I have been having headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, tingling in my arms and hands, teeth pain, etc. off and on for years. Every couple of years my neck will 'go out' and I will go to a chiropractor for a few weeks. I started going to a chiropractor last October for neck pain and headaches. This time I got worse instead of getting better. I started getting severe headaches, severe tingling in my arms and hands and twitching in my right hand. I was referred to an orthopaedic doctor. I have had several MRI's (brain, neck and lumbar). I have pinched nerves and bulging discs in my neck. I was referred to a neurologist because my doctor wanted to rule out MS. After testing by the neurologist, it was determined I didn't have MS and was turned back over to my orthopaedic doctor. He sent me to a pain specialist to get a steroid shot in my neck hoping it would relieve my headaches enough so I could go through physical therapy for my neck. We waited two weeks after the injection to see if it was going to help with my headaches. I did get some relief. Some days I didn't have a headache at all (which for me is extremely rare). I started physical therapy about 3 weeks ago. After the third session, I woke up the following day with the worst headache of my life that lasted for almost two days. I called my doctor and he discontinued physical therapy and decided it is time for me to go to an orthopaedic surgeon for another opinion. I have another appointment for another injection in another part of my neck. I told my doctor that I am ready for surgery if it will help ease my pain. I don't know how much more I can deal with. As I sit here typing this email, I have a fairly severe headache (I woke up with it this morning), my arms are tingling and my shoulders and neck hurt. Please send me any information you can.
Sincerely,
TREATMENT
The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, improve function, and maintain a pain free condition. There are many medical/dental schools, national and international organizations of healthcare professionals, and prominent individuals who dedicated in the field of TMJ/TMD, Craniofacial pain, Orofacial pain, and established treatment protocols. (www.aacfp.org, www.aaop.org, www.aapainmanage.org)
Dr. Kim devoted 2,500+ hours to post-doctoral continuing education to learn advanced general dentistry, TMJ/TMD, and related area: oriental medicine, holistic medicine, sleep medicine, toxicology, nutritional supplement, Contact Reflex Analysis, Bi-Digital O-Ring Technique, and "The Resultant Force Vector Technique", etc.
As a redult of combination of his learning and clinical experience, Dr. Kim uniquely developed a on-site assessment, diagnosis and treatment program. This program enables him to identify the relationship between the true source of pain and TMJ/TMD objectively, establishes a proper treatment plan, and even can predict treatment prognosis: whether the symptoms can be eliminated with treatment or not before treatment is started.
In general, treatment is devided in two phases. Phase-one Splint Therapy; Phase-two Stabilization treatment. Splint therapy is the most common treatment modality for the majority of TMJ-dentists utilize. A properly fabricated, fitted, adjusted, and balanced splint reposition the TM Joint into physiological functional position, nullify the muscle activities, relieve pain, reduce the inflammation, normalize the abnormal muscle tension, and improve function.
Stablization treatment: once the patient's pain and symptoms are successfully eliminated with splint therapy and adjunct therapy, wll move on to restorative treatment to stabilize the bite and TMJ in a pain-free position permanently. There are few treatment options including orthodontic treatment and fabrication of new crown/bridge. Individual treatment option and procedure will be presented and discussed when have evaluation.
At TMJ Head & Neck Pain Center, Dr. Kim utilizes "The Resultant Force Vector Technique (RFV)" during diagnosis, evaluation and assessment, and phase-one and phase-two treatment. The RFV Technique is so poweful and effective, when it is combined with other treatment modalities, most TMD/Craniofacial pain related symptoms are eliminated in a few weeks after treatment started, over 90% of the cases.
For more information read "The Resultant Force Vector Technique" in this website please.