CONSISTENTLY SUCCESSFUL TMJ TREATMENT
By Dr. John Witzig

 Patients that are suffering TMJ pain and symptoms almost always experience "clicking", "locking", or internal derangement of the disc and condyle of one or both TMJ joints. 
The patient can experience pain from the joint areas, along with the muscles of mastication.  It is a normal relation of the muscles to go into painful spasm to help protect an injured joint or joints.
      A stabilization appliance is needed to treat the patient for remission of pain and joint healing.
      Successful treatment can be accomplished using a prosthetic appliance of some type, splint or double splint (twin block).  The Twin Block provides several advantages over the single splint.
      To be consistently successful with the stabilization appliance, models of the mouth are needed.  A proper bite is also required so the mandible can function and rest in the pain free position.
      Because the patient has "clicking" or "locking" of the disc ahead of the condyle, it is impossible to consistently achieve a proper construction bite, every time, by taking the bite in the mouth.
      Much too often, a wax bite results in the disc positioned or "locked" ahead of the condyles of one or both joints.  This presents a problem.
      The appliance or splint is then constructed to this improper bite, which has the wrong condyle-disc-fossa relationship.
      The appliance then fails to give proper joint healing.  The clinician finds his conservative treatment does not work successfully, and many times the patient is referred for TMJ surgery.
      Today, using TMJ x-rays and the Denar-Witzig articulator, a proper condyle-fossa relationship and posterior vertical dimension can be used consistently and regularly, every time in the therapeutic construction bite for appliance construction.
      The appliance (splint, double splint or prosthetic appliance) fabricated to this proper therapeutic construction bite will allow immediate remission of pain and symptoms, along with proper joint healing.
      Another big advantage or benefit of this treatment is the ideal posterior vertical dimension.  They are built into the appliance by the laboratory.  This means that no acrylic adjustments will be needed by the clinician at the appliance insertion and immediate check-up appointments.  This is obviously a  big time saver.
      You will find your success in treating TMJ patients to be satisfying to you, the clinician.
      This technique is so beneficial and successful that you will not be referring any patients for TMJ surgery.
      Those patients that make appointments at your office for TMJ pain (treatment doctors have indicated TMJ surgery is needed) are excellent patients for this technique.
     We have several patients that were treated successfully at the TMJ Institute of America in Minneapolis.  They made appointments for TMJ treatment because other offices prescribed TMJ surgery as being their only hope.  These patients did not want to go through invasive, radical TMJ surgery.  Today, these patients thank our staff, many times, at the TMJ Institute for treating them.  Invasive and painful TMJ surgery is unnecessary.
      This technique will provide your practice with consistently successful TMJ treatment results, and a greatly enhanced reputation.  The treatment will also dramatically increase your satisfaction level and "bottom line" income.

Dr. Witzig is the founder and Director of the TMJ Institute of America. The popular TMJ book, "The Temporomandibular Joint--Volume III" by Dr. Witzig and Dr. Spahl, is available by calling Johns Dental Laboratory at (800)457-0504.

For the past 16 years, Dr. Witzig has been in the exclusive practice of orthodontics and TMJ disorders.

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