Taking Patients out of Pain

By Dennis Nagata, D.D.S.

Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (MPD) is a chronic illness that you may have never heard of, but which quietly affects the lives of many people. MPD is a term, which describes a group of symptoms that involve pain in the muscles of the head and neck area. This illness has also been called TMJ, which is short for Temporo-mandibular Joints. 

Research shows that this disorder afflicts up to 40 million Americans and mostly women. Some people travel from doctor to doctor to get relief from this often, debilitating disorder. MPD is a chronic (long duration) degenerative disease that often takes years to develop. MPD is caused by three components, structural, emotional and biochemical factors.

The most common cause of MPD is structural which stems from a condition, which is called "malocclusion" (bad bite). The teeth for some reason do not close together in a correct manner. When the teeth do not meet correctly, it affects chewing and swallowing when you eat. Your teeth are a part of your body that is attached to the jawbone, or mandible. Your TMJ or temporomandibular joints attach your jawbone to your head or temporal bone. It is a ball and socket joint like your leg and hip joint and the muscles of the face hold the mandible like a sling. If your teeth are not providing the proper bracing support for your jaw against your skull, the muscles of the face compensate by forcing your teeth to come together for chewing and swallowing. Since you swallow at least 1000 times each day and night, the muscles can become strained and go into spasm. This spasm is the primary cause of myofascial pain (MPD).

Stress is a major factor in MPD. Dr. Hans Selye, the famous stress researcher, defines stress as "the rate of wear and tear on the body." Stress causes changes in the body causing emotional and biochemical imbalances that eventually lead to exhaustion and the body becomes prone to illnesses such as a heart attack, diabetes, ulcers and for some, MPD.

Fortunately, technology is available to help people with MPD and we have used this technology to take patients out of pain and give them a better life. A computer program is used to help evaluate the conditions of the muscles of the face and we can track the movement of the jaw to help people with their problem. We use the computer to help patients re-establish their bite to help relieve MPD symptoms. Modern dental restorations are used to re-establish the bite and regain stability in the skull. Headaches, neck pain and other problems start to gradually disappear for most patients. 

If you are interested in finding about more about this service, please feel free to ask anyone if our office. If you have friends or family who you think may be suffering from MPD or TMJ, please let them know there is treatment for them and we can help them get back to a rich, full and pain free lifestyle.

More information about TMJ disorders at:
http://www.TMJCareHawaii.com

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