Comprehensive Bite Analysis and TMJ (Temporomandibular Joints) Stabilization

Recurring pain in the jaw that you experience when you chew, yawn, and talk can be an indicator of a disorder with the “hinge” that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of the skull, which are found in front of each ear.  If these joints become inflamed, you will experience a very painful situation.  It is also common for headaches to regularly plague people with this painful disorder.     

There can be many reasons why a person has a TMJ disorder.  Some of those, Dr. Cooke says can be due to the patient unknowingly grinding or clenching their teeth while they sleep.  This action leads to too much pressure on the jaw joints.  In other cases, an individual may have been injured in this area, leading to the wrong type of movement of the tiny disc located between the socket and ball of the joint.  There are yet other causes of this painful condition which can include such ailments as arthritis of the joint.

In Dr. Cooke’s comprehensive bite analysis, he carefully examines the mechanics of the patient's bite function.  Reviewing it as an engineer would, Dr. Cooke assesses each small part of the jaw’s opening and closing mechanism.  “Making sure that a patient has a sound, proper bite is paramount to reducing pain and discomfort,” he says.  In order to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on an individual’s teeth, it is important to have a correct bite.

If a patient is regularly experiencing heavy pressure on their TMJ area due to grinding or clenching their teeth, Dr. Cooke can fashion a very sophisticated appliance for the individual to wear.  This appliance protects the patient’s jaw and teeth from the problem. Worn at night, this special appliance allows the patient to get quality sleep and reduce or eliminate the pain they have endured in the past.