Craniomandibular Dysfunction (CMD) is a disease of the masticatory system, which is usually caused by a malposition of the lower jaw to the upper jaw. Especially when biting, the upper jaw and lower jaw do not meet in the ideal position. This results in a strong over- and underloading of the masticatory muscles, which can lead to pain and swelling.
In an ideally aligned dentition, the teeth of the upper and lower jaw meet like gear wheels. As a result, the temporomandibular joints, the teeth and the entire masticatory muscles are evenly stressed. If this harmonious interaction is disturbed, one or more of these anatomical structures are overstrained or misstressed; pain and irritation are often the result.
Craniomandibular dysfunction can be the cause of many other diseases. – genetic predisposition and psychological stress, which manifests itself in overloading of the masticatory muscles
- Traumatic effects on the jaw
- Poorly fitted crowns and/or bridges
- Fillings too high
- Be extremely malaligned
- Thus, the occurrence of tinnitus can be attributed to craniomandibular dysfunction in about 30 percent of cases
- Incorrect loading in the head area which can have far-reaching effects on the rest of the musculoskeletal system
- Pronounced backbite to malpositions of the head and cervical spine
- Blockage of the upper cervicals can lead to blockage of the pelvic joints
The main number of affected patients reports Also the appearance of the teeth can in many cases indicate the presence of craniomandibular dysfunction. Heavily worn, notched teeth are a clear symptom and should be clarified with the dentist immediately.
Since craniomandibular dysfunction leads to incorrect and excessive strain on various muscle groups, shoulder, neck and back pain can also be an indication of the presence of this disease. Incorrect loading of the temporomandibular joint, on the other hand, usually leads to severe headaches and even migraine-like symptoms. In addition, many affected patients suffer from mood swings and/or depression due to the pain and psychological stress that craniomandibular dysfunction brings with it.
- Moderate to severe pain in the chewing and facial muscles and the temporomandibular joint
- Heavy teeth grinding
- From a certain point of time on, to loosen teeth and to displace teeth within the jaw
- Frequent dizziness
- Ear pain or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Nocturnal breathing disorders and snoring
Tinnitus is a noise in the ear that can be caused by many different factors. In the context of CMD, it occurs in almost a quarter of those affected. However, the exact mechanism of its development is still unknown. In most cases, the ear noise in the context of CMD increases when the teeth are clenched or the mouth is opened.
Treatment of a craniomandibular dysfunction
The treatment of craniomandibular dysfunction requires an ideal interaction between dentist, orthodontist, orthodontist, physiotherapist and ostheopaths. One specialist alone will not be able to provide the patient with ideal assistance. After all risk factors have been eliminated, the affected patient can in many cases be helped by a so-called functional splint or bite splint.
and crunch splint Such a splint can be removed from the mouth by the patient himself, it should be worn at night if possible. It is usually possible to counteract the effects of the craniomandibular dysfunction by wearing the functional splint and to restore the even strain on the masticatory muscles. The splint is usually made for the lower jaw and covers the entire row of teeth.
Since, as already described, there is an interaction of the muscles of different body regions, wearing a functional splint has a positive effect on the complete body statics of patients with craniomandibular dysfunction. For this reason, treatment must be urgently coordinated with a physiotherapist and/or orthopaedic surgeon. Heat and cold therapies can be used to alleviate the pain.
Various manual treatments, acupuncture and learning relaxation techniques also have a pain-relieving effect on most patients. – During the course of the therapy, the dentist is responsible for adjusting crowns, bridges and/or fillings to ensure an ideal bite (occlusion). Any unevenness that hinders the proper closure of the jaw should be removed if possible.
At the beginning of a therapy an occlusal splint is made. This is initially worn at night for two to three months and is checked weekly by the doctor and changed if necessary. If the symptoms improve, a definitive solution can be considered. This consists of crowning the teeth to achieve the desired position without the splint.
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