Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
You are not alone! Did you know that more than 15 percent of American adults suffer fromchronic facial pain; such as jaw pain, jaw popping, locked jaw, difficulty chewing, headaches orearaches? Pat Bannon in Downers Grove can help you with the most appropriate and conservativetreatments for your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today at (630) 971-1359 or complete the form and we willcontact you shortly.
What is TMD/TMJ?
Problems with your jaw, jaw pain and the muscles in your face that control it are known astemporomandibular disorders (TMD). Referring to the specific temporomandibular joint (TMJ),is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the bone of the skull. This joint is locatedimmediately in front of the ear on each side of the head. The muscles attached to the jaw allowthe jaw an incredible amount of movement, such as side to side and up and down.
This flexibilityallows us to chew, talk, and yawn. Each TMJ has a disc between the ball and socket. The disccushions the load while enabling the jaw to open widely and rotate or glide. Any problem thatprevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working properly mayresult in a painful TMJ disorder.
About Us
Dr. Patrick J. Bannon
Dr. Patrick J. Bannon grew up in the south western Chicago suburb of Lockport. He attended Northern Illinois University prior to receiving admission to Loyola University School of Dentistry, graduating with a D.D.S degree in 1972. After receiving his D.D.S. he completed the dental specialty program of Pediatric Dentistry.
This involvement allows him to continue to strive for excellence in a variety of dental areas. He frequently spends weekends traveling to enhance his knowledge and skill base so that he can serve his patients at the highest level. His hours of continuing education range between 150 to 250 hours.
His practice has been largely influenced by his own experience and his desire to share those insights with his patients and their family. He believes "the little things can make the big difference". He plans to continue serving his patients as long as God permits.
Dr. Monica Babbitt grew up in Bristol, Illinois, about 60 miles west of the city of Chicago. In 1988, she graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in dental hygiene. While working part-time as a hygienist, she continued her education at University of Illinois in Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1993 and her Doctorate Degree from the School of Dentistry in 1994. She completed her education at University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a surgical residency in Periodontology in 1997.
Dr. Babbitt frequently attends continuing education courses, most recently regarding alternative medicine, implants and laser surgical technique. She has completed a proficiency certificate from the Academy of Laser Dentistry. In the last two years, she has attended 100+ hours of continuing education. She has been a member of the American Academy of Periodontology and the Midwest Society of Periodontology since 1998.
April is a Registered Dental Hygienist who graduated from Parkland College with a degree in Dental Hygiene in 2004. She joined the Bannon team in 2007 and is the head of the preventative care hygiene department. April continues to expand her skills by learning and implementing new techniques for patient care and she is committed to helping her patients bridge their dental needs with quality care.
Kelsey Bennett
Kelsey is a Registered Dental Hygienist who graduated from Parkland College in 2007 with a degree in Dental Hygiene. She has been with Dr. Bannon since 2012. She is passionate about helping people better their oral hygiene and providing them with the best possible care. Seeing a happy and healthy smile on her patients face is what makes Kelsey a happy hygienist and reminds her everyday how much she loves her field of work.
Cyndi earned her degree from College of DuPage and has been a Dental Assistant for 26 years. She joined Dr. Bannon’s team in 2013 and is the head of the operative care department. Cyndi enjoys challenging herself to learn new methods and to stay knowledgeable about current techniques every day. She loves every aspect of her work and looks forward to another 26 years providing supreme dental care.
Lora is the Scheduling Coordinator and joined Dr. Bannon’s team in 2013. She earned a degree in Marketing and Human Resource from Argosy University. Every day she looks forward to ensuring that patients are able to set appointments in a timely fashion. Lora is also very excited to work with emergency patients. She prides herself on consistently making sure that each patient gets the time they deserve for dental service, and answers any questions or concerns patients may have.
Julie, our Financial Coordinator earned a degree from Benedictine University in Business and Health Administration. She began working with Dr. Bannon in 2010 and has enjoyed working in the dental field for over 20 years. Julie prides herself on being able to make sure that patients not only get the best dental care they deserve, but are also able to have a financial plan that is tailored to their needs. She believes that finance should never be a reason to have an unhealthy smile and is very passionate about working with everyone.
Amber received her degree from Corinthians. She has been working as a dental assistant for 9 years. Amber finds her passion in helping people understand the importance of dental health. She loves addressing any concerns her patients may have concerning their dental care.
Treatment Options
What treatment options do I have?
Keep in mind that for most people, discomfort from TMD/TMJ will eventually go away whethertreated or not and our office encourages simple self-care non-invasive practices. If moretreatment is needed, it should be conservative and reversible. Pat Bannon avoids, if at allpossible, treatments that cause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. If irreversible treatments arerecommended, we encourage you to gather all the information you need to make an informedbest decision and even to get a second opinion. Pain clinics in hospitals and universities are agood source of advice and second opinions for temporomandibular disorders.
Non-Invasive treatment options include:
- Using a dental articulator, Pat Bannon will analyze your bite on an instrument thatsimulates the way your jaw works
- Bite correction with T-Scan computer-bite sensors which digitally map your bite so weknow precisely how your teeth bite, from the high spots to the low spots
- Bite Splint Therapy-If we determine that there is a cause/effect relationship between theincorrect bite of the teeth and TMJ/muscle symptoms, a bite splint could berecommended. A hard acrylic therapeutic device is fabricated to fit snugly over eitheryour upper or lower teeth creating an artificial biting surface that alleviates undue stressand force, providing for better joint and muscle function and comfort. As you wear thesplint, your bite on it will change, requiring additional adjustments to the splint. The goalis to alleviate the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders, as well as stabilize your bite onthe splint.
- Inflamyar – a compound of various natural plant based products for Treatment ofInflammation, Arthritis, Muscle Pain, Bursitis, Sprains, Bruises and Sports Injuries. Weuse this with low level laser therapy to help with sore temporomandibular joints andmuscles
- Eating soft foods
- Try to avoid extreme jaw movements, like yawning and gum chewing
- Avoid biting your nails
- Applying warm compresses to the area of pain
- Muscle stretching and relaxation exercises to perform at home
- If you have the habit of teeth grinding, Pat Bannon can fit you with a therapeutic splintthat fits over your upper and lower teeth like a mouth sports guard. The splint is designedto ease muscle tension by reducing clenching or teeth grinding at night
More invasive treatment options include:
- A bite adjustment to correctly engineer your bite. It is a precise procedure that is alwaysdone first on models of your mouth. And before that procedure is done, a bite splint maybe prescribed to relax the muscles and allow the joints to stabilize first.
- Cortisone shots can help relieve inflammation and pain
- Fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth
- Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended
- Jaw joint replacement surgery to replace the jaw joint with an artificial implant
What are the chronic symptoms of TMD/TMJ?
- Facial pain or tenderness, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the earwhen you chew, speak, or yawn
- Limited ability to open the mouth wide
- Jaw popping
- Jaws that get “stuck” or “locked” in the open or closed mouth position
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the joint when the mouth is opened or closed
- Tired feeling in the face or neck
- Difficulty chewing
- Sudden uncomfortable feeling when biting
- Swelling on the side of the face
- Toothaches
- Consistent headaches or neck aches
- Dizziness
- Earaches
- Hearing problems
- Upper shoulder pain
- Ringing in the ears
- More women experience TMD/TMJ pain than men and is most often seen in peoplebetween 20 to 40 years of age.
What are potential causes of TMD/TMJ?
- Trauma or injury such as whiplash
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding
- Clenching
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Dislocation
- Tooth and jaw alignment
How is TMD/TMJ diagnosed?
At present, there is no widely accepted, standard test to correctly identify TMD/TMJ.Because the exact causes and symptoms are not clear, diagnosing temporomandibular disorderscan be confusing especially because other dental conditions, such as a toothache or sinusproblems, can cause similar symptoms.
In about 90 percent of the cases, says the Delta DentalPlans Association, your description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examinationof face and jaw by Pat Bannon provides useful information for diagnosing temporomandibulardisorders. During an examination, we perform orthopedic types of tests on the TMJ such aspalpation (pressing various areas), auscultation (listening while the jaw moves), range of motiontests, and loading or joint compression tests.
These allow us to assess the current status of jointform and function. If you have joint pain, we will determine exactly which structure(s) areinvolved in order to make a diagnosis. We will also palpate the muscles of the head and neckarea to determine if they may be a source of pain.Pat Bannon in Downers Grove may also take x-rays and make a cast of your teeth to see how yourbite fits together, or may request specialized x-rays of the TM joints.
Complimentary Consultation
After a personal consultation and exam, Pat Bannon can suggest the most appropriate therapybased on the suspected cause of your TMD/TMJ pain. Call us today (630) 971-1359 to schedule anappointment in Downers Grove or complete the form for a complimentary consultation at Patrick Bannon
Call (630) 971-1359 NOW to schedule your Complimentary Consultation or fill in the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Testimonials
Always a very comprehensive and complete examination by Dr. Bannon. His staff and hygienists are very professional, caring and complete. Highly recommend Dr. Bannon and his office for all of your dental needs. - Mike H.
Dr. Bannon has been my dentist for 38 years and, although I now live an hour away, I still choose him for my dentist. He continues his studies to stay on top of his field and shares his knowledge with the entire staff. He is not only an exceptional dentist professionally, he is also kind and patient. All of the staff in his office reflect that kindness and patience as well as being individually good in their chosen fields. It was this office that suggested I be tested for sleep apnea, not my medical doctors, which turned out to be an accurate assessment. I highly recommend him. - Deborah C.
Going to the dentist now is more of a pleasant experience than it used to be for me I always had a lot of anxiety but all of the people there make you feel so comfortable and they do a fantastic job and the dentist is just as amazing I would recommend Dr. Bannon and his staff to everyone you will not be sorry - Rosemary H.
Our family has been seeing Dr. Bannon for the past 25 plus years. He is a perfectionist, always willing to explain in detail any questions we may have. He is well versed with the latest research and technology in the field and brings that knowledge to the practice. I value his integrity in that he never recommends procedures that do not benefit the patient. The staff is super friendly and the dental hygienist excellent!! I have recommended this practice to family and friends and will continue to do so. - Bansi J.