Tracy- Treatment Options for Injured Jaw Joints

This case describes a new patient asking for a nightguard to fix her grinding jaw joint that used to make clicking and popping noises during childhood. But without understanding the anatomy of the temporomandibular (TM) joints and how to evaluate them, it will be difficult to have a realistic discussion about the success of a nightguard and help her understand risk factors and other treatment options. In this module, Dr. Jim McKee discusses normal and commonly seen injured jaw joints and explains how the TM joint condition will impact treatment planning and prognosis discussions with patients.

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Learning Objectives:

• Identify the three main clinical presentations of TM joints.
• Discuss risk factors of injured joints based on soft and hard tissue anatomy.
• Gain confidence in explaining injured TM joint treatment options to patients.

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