Treatment for TMJ
In the past, treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder) was limited to simple symptomatic therapies, such as wearing a mouthpiece. About 40 years ago, dental medicine that focused on the relationship between occlusion (bite), the jaw joint, and the whole body became popular. At that time, several foreign experts came to Japan to give lectures, presenting their research on how overall body strength and bite alignment are interconnected.
About 30 years ago, I personally underwent a treatment where all of my upper teeth were reshaped and enlarged first, followed by the lower teeth, raising the overall height of my bite. This adjustment relieved tension in my jaw joint and allowed my body to regain strength.
However, the best approach is orthodontic treatment that can actually move the positions of the teeth. Recently, a new method has emerged that uses MRI imaging to observe the condition of the jaw joint while moving the teeth through orthodontic treatment. In the past, it was difficult to achieve such precision with traditional wire braces, but with modern clear aligner systems, it’s now possible to move the teeth into the optimal spatial position without the need to grind down one’s natural teeth.
By using MRI for diagnosis and analysis to correct the bite, this represents a truly remarkable advancement in treatment.