In this blog post, we will explore the importance of maintaining healthy joints in battling TMJ disorder among seniors, or anyone for that matter. I will focus on how this condition can affect one’s health, sleep, and overall quality of life, as well as treatment options available for managing TMJ disorder.

When it comes to being a senior there seem to be so many more things to be concerned about than when we were younger. At any stage, the temporomandibular joint’s functionality is essential for basic yet vital activities including eating, speaking and expressing emotions through facial movements. However, this critical joint can become compromised due to a history of dental procedures, tooth loss increasing stress on the TMJ, habitual clenching or grinding of teeth (bruxism), or simply the natural aging process, which can lead to degeneration of the joint’s cartilage.

Symptoms in seniors may manifest differently than in younger individuals, often characterized by more pronounced pain, limited jaw mobility, and even changes in the fit of dental appliances. In addition, older adults might experience headaches, earaches and increased sensitivity in the facial muscles, all of which can significantly impact their daily lives. The role of dental health becomes increasingly important in diagnosing and managing TMJ disorder in this age group.

Well folks, with the regular checkups with all those doctors, let’s be sure to make one of those doctors your TMJ specialist! A pivotal tool in evaluating the health of these joints is the CBCT X-ray, a diagnostic approach that offers comprehensive insights into the condition of the jaw joint, allowing for targeted interventions. The other diagnostic tool is an MRI. This allows the specialist to see all the soft tissue from the neck up.

For example: If the MRI shows slipped and or displaced discs in the TM joints, it would be prudent to try and fix the problem before it gets worse. Did you know that those slipped discs correlate to many other health problems? Well, they do!  The slipped discs directly correlate to SDB (Sleep Disordered Breathing)  along with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Slipped discs also correlate with whole-body pain because the inflamed joints affect your entire body. Bottom line: It’s good to talk to your TMJ specialist! The integrity and health of joints are indispensable and contribute significantly to the overall resilience against conditions mitigating inflammation and aiding in the smooth operation of the temporomandibular joint.

In regards to the CBCT X-ray, this is a very valuable bit of a data gold mine. The X-ray provides a view at the top of the jaw bones (the condyles) to determine if they are eroding, flattened, damaged, too high in the socket and so many other issues. If that condyle is not where it should be, it adds to your list of chronic inflammation sources. The condyle will rub around in the socket and can actually further displace an already out-of-place disc. This just makes the situation worse.

The frontal view of your skull is quite critical in determining the symmetry of the cranial bones. As we get older, we tend to lose our good posture, i.e. we hunch more.  So, if the cranial bones are out of alignment like we see in so many people, hunching will just make things worse as we age, and this leads to more head and neck pain. More hunching with a distorted skull means more pain as we get older. It’s a simple thing and by spotting the cranial distortions earlier in life, you can use something like the ALF appliance to help reduce the asymmetry for a better future. Less pain makes for better sleep and a happier life.

Another aspect of the CBCT is the view of the cervical spine (the side view of the neck). With this view, we can see AND measure the distances between C-1 and C-2, and from C-1 to C-0 (occiput). This is the section of the spine in the neck. Both these distances need to be around 6mm for good health. If they are not, this means the cervical spine is compressed. It’s good to know this at a younger age so you can work on it with your physical therapist, wear a proper oral appliance and get better before you get too much older.

The MRI will show how the disc acts when opening and closing. Because this diagnostic tool shows all soft tissue, the specialist can see if there is any evidence of hemorrhagic within the brain around the TM joints.  The other great piece of information is the measurement of the range of motion and angulation of the joints. This is very valuable information to help create a good treatment plan. Fostering healthy joints involves a multifaceted approach to working with your other doctors and or therapist. The goal is to relax and strengthen the muscles surrounding the jaw and advocate for proper position.

Concluding our exploration of TMJ disorder and its impact on senior health, it’s evident that maintaining joint health is a cornerstone of mitigating this condition’s effects. Seniors are encouraged to take a holistic approach to their well-being, integrating physical, nutritional and therapeutic strategies to bolster joint health and manage TMJ symptoms effectively.

Furthermore, staying informed about the latest in TMJ management and maintaining open communication with your healthcare providers are key steps in navigating this condition successfully. It only makes sense. So, pay attention to your TM joints and stay healthier later in life! This proactive stance on joint health is instrumental in the broader spectrum of TMJ management, ensuring that seniors are equipped with the strategies necessary for mitigating the condition’s effects and enhancing their overall well-being.

Call To Learn More

If you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to call our dedicated team in Falls Church, Virginia and speak with a member of our team. We are also happy to schedule a visit with Dr. Jeffrey, Brown. Just call 703-821-1103 today!

Read Dr. Brown’s article in Your Health Magazine.

The post The Importance of Healthy Joints in Battling TMJ Disorder Among Seniors first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.

There are so many issues involved with SDB that it would take pages to explain, so in this short blog, we will review some of the major players in the equation.

The symptoms of SDB include morning headaches, night terrors, teeth grinding, polyuria (lots of bathroom visits at night), mood changes (irritability during the day), cognitive difficulties, restless sleep, gasping/snorting while asleep, and periods of outright cessation of breathing. As you can see, SDB is a very serious matter and needs to be addressed.

Let’s start with how to measure SDB. To get somewhat of a handle on the problem, a fairly simple test called the PSG (Polysomnogram) can be done. The PSG produces a number that allows an assessment of how serious sleep apnea might be. It’s sort of similar to getting a blood pressure number. For sleep apnea, if the number goes above 5-15, the apnea is considered to be moderate. Anything over 15 is generally considered severe apnea and needs to be addressed right away. A CPAP is usually the first course of treatment, and if a patient cannot handle wearing the CPAP, a dental sleep appliance usually works quite well.

As part of a good sleep analysis, the Vitamin D3 level should be analyzed carefully. The reason for this is that D3 is not really a vitamin, it is actually a hormone that regulates your sleep. If the D3 number is around 30 ng/ml or below, you are running really low and should address the problem. The proper number for good healing and good sleep is around 60-80 ng/ml. If you maintain a very low D3 level over time, eventually your body stops the ability to process D3 and you will have lots of problems with sleep later in life.

Snoring is another SDB issue that is very common in our society. Snoring is created by a harsh sound that occurs when the tissue is vibrating as you breath. This can turn into a chronic problem causing a vibration of the carotid artery, and this can cause damage to the artery to the point where your body sends plaque to fill in the damaged areas. If a plaque loosens and goes to your heart, then a cardiovascular event, even death, can occur. Snoring can be caused by a condition having fat deposition in the throat and tongue, nasal congestion, deviated septum, or even enlarged tonsils and adenoids. These factors can lead to snoring and prevent a good night’s sleep.

Another important aspect of good sleep is a very much ignored thing called sleep hygiene. That’s right; how clean, how good is your sleep pattern? What this means is that if you can program your body into going to bed at a regular time each night, your body will get used to that pattern and sleep more effectively and efficiently. Good sleep can be prevented by other factors such as:

-Sleep Disturbance: This is mostly caused by stress, insomnia and even excessive screen time.

-Poor Diet: Food is obviously a very important part of fuel for our body. With a poor diet, nutritional deficiencies become present, like the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

-Dehydration: This affects the function of your body’s organs and blood volume. The effect makes you feel tired.

-Psychological: This could be stress from work or a traumatic event causing a considerable degree of uneasiness leading to your mental health and exhaustion.

As you can see, when sleep is poor, you will be tired. It’s as simple as that.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Dr. Jeffrey Brown and our team are here to help. We offer sleep apnea therapy in Falls Church, VA. Please give us a call if you would like to learn more, or to schedule a consultation. Just call our office at 703-821-1103. Better sleep awaits you!

The post Why am I Always Tired? first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.