Many factors contribute to this widely misdiagnosed problem. Here are several prominent causes:
- Genetic predisposition to problems related to the muscles involving chewing and/or skeletal disorders.
- Birth trauma (natural childbirth, worse if forceps used.)
- Being bottle fed, use of pacifiers, sucking of fingers or other objects.
- Tongue thrust pattern when swallowing.
- Trauma sustained to teeth, jaw, neck, head or soft tissues.
- Declining or poor bite relationship including loss or damage of back teeth.
- Poor nutrition.
There are many other indications for a TMJ disorder
too numerous and diverse to list. In fact, many physicians (and dentists)
cannot agree on what TMJ disorder actually is. In most cases, even diagnosed
with “TMJ”, a patient is told they should be on medications because it´s
a behavioral problem (clenching, bruxing due to lifestyle and tension,
etc.) or, they are recommended for a surgical solution. We believe the
scientifically proven fact that the disorder is real and treatable; often
without surgical intervention.