TMJ Study and Investigation Page. Three years of publication.

Dear friends,

At December 2014 I started the project TMJ Study and Investigation Page. At first, all its content was offered in three languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish. Due to the analysis of the webpage access statistics, at March 2015 I decided to offer the content solely in Portuguese and English.

Anyway, access to the contents of the page is still available to other researchers, professionals in the field and to those interested in the research that I develop.

Nowadays, the medicine based on evidence is hierarchically stratified from top to bottom, where in the base of the pyramid we find the clinic cases, which are rarely seen as evidence.

The TMJ Study and Investigation Page had in its conception, the purpose of posting the clinic cases, which were carefully published with the documentation related to each of the patients treated at Clinica MY with pain complaints, dysfunction and TMJ pathology.

The proposition was of presenting these clinic cases and concepts in order share them, offering free access to the content along images, surface electromyographies, computerized kinesiography, scanned before and after the therapeutic process. Cases of tridimentional orthodontics and neuromuscular phisiologic reabilitation of the second phase of treatment, after the TMJ treatment, were also included.

The TMJ Study and Investigation Page completed in the month of December, three years of life.

I remembered to celebrate on the first anniversary of the Page.

In the middle of the work with patients, teaching and publications I did not remember to celebrate the second year.

I want to celebrate these three years with you.

With this project, we have a place in the Internet that presents a line of work known as neuromuscular physiologic dentistry, which takes into account the whole body system. It is an area which acts on posture, mandibular functioning and considers the entire body system.

In order to do that, the neuromuscular physiologic dentistry aims to establish, in the patient, a position that is based on a harmonious relation between the muscles, the teeth, and the temporomandibular joints.

In the publication of this year’s end I have chosen the most significant images of all these years of publications, with direct links to each of the original publications.

At the end of this publication I placed the links of the publications of the first year of this page.

The TMJ Study and Investigation Page  has grown tremendously and continues to receive visitors from all over the world.

Thank you!

Lidia Yavich

Temporomandibular Joint Pathology in a Patient with Congenital Fusion of two Cervical Vertebrae. First and Second Phase. Case Report.

Postural Improvement in a Patient after Neuromuscular Physiological Mandible Repositioning Treatment. Patient with Scoliosis Surgery and Craniomandibular Symptomatology.

TMJ Pathologies Treatment: Patient with Severe Headaches and Temporomandibular Joint Pain with Significant Contour Irregularities in the Mandibular Condyle and Mouth Opening Limitation.

Reestablishment of the Bone Marrow Signal in a case of Avascular Necrosis of the Mandibular Head. Monitoring two years after treatment.

Neuromuscular Physiological Treatment in a Patient with Headache and Pain in the Temporomandibular Joints. Case report without possibility of Disc Recapture: first and second phase.

Child with Otalgia (earache) and Conductive Hearing Loss: when measuring makes the difference. Normalization of hearing thresholds. First and second phase. Case report.

TMJ Pathologies Treatment: Patient with Pain in the Back of the Head, Bilateral Tinnitus and Constant Teeth and Prosthesis Fracture. First and second phase. Case Report.

TMJ Pathologies Treatment: Patient with headache for 30 years. Neuromuscular Physiological Rehabilitation. First and second phase. Case Report.

TMJ Pathology in Professional Musicians: A look beyond the risk factors. Physiological Neuromuscular Rehabilitation. First and second phase. Case Report.

TMJ Study and Investigation Page. One year of publication

The TMJ Study and Investigation Page  has grown tremendously and continues to receive visitors from all over the world.

Thank you!

Lidia Yavich

TMJ Pathologies Treatment: Patient with Pain in the Back of the Head, Bilateral Tinnitus and Constant Teeth and Prosthesis Fracture. First and second phase. Case Report.

A 57-year-old male patient presented at the clinic, referred by a colleague with complaints of: back of the head pain mainly on the right side, ringing in both ears and perception of strange sounds.

The patient complains of daytime and nighttime clenching.

Refers to dental losses very early, and installation of prostheses that are subsequently fractured, as well as dental fillings fracture.

Habitual occlusion of the patient on the day of the appointment, the patient had made a removable prosthesis, but felt neither stability nor comfort with it.

Upper and lower occlusal views of the patient without the lower removable prosthesis before treatment

Patient’s initial panoramic radiograph before treatment

Radiographic examination shows absence of dental elements 17, 15, 14, 24, 27, 28, 38, 37 and 36.

Alveolar bone loss in the maxilla and mandible. Impairment of the bone support of element 18. Impairment of the furcation region of element 46.

Alveolar extension of the maxillary sinus in the region of premolars and molars

Endodontically treated 13 and 12 elements.

The laminography of the temporomandibular joints shows superior and posterior positioning of the right articular process in the articular cavity and inferior and anterior positioning of the left articular process in the articular cavity when the mandible is in the position of maximum intercuspation.

In the maximum opening position, observe anterior angulation of the articular processes. Significant flattening of the posterior and superior surfaces of the right joint process.

Lateral radiography in conjunction with the patient profile image before treatment.

Frontal radiography in conjunction with the patient profile image before treatment.

Lateral and cervical spine radiographs together with the lateral image of the patient before treatment.

Patient’s comparative electromyographic records at rest,  before and after the electronic deprogramming with the TENS.

Note the relaxation of the muscles especially of the right masseter which after relaxation showed symmetrical values with the left masseter.

Patient’s dynamic electromyographic record in habitual occlusion before treatment. Note the activation of trapezius and digastric muscles at the moment of maximum occlusion.

One slice of the patient’s MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): we can observe anterior angulation of the articular processes, flattening of the superior and posterior surface of the articular process of the right side and the posterior surface of the left side. Information we had on laminography.

The articular discs are displaced anteriorly and are also very thin which imply a disc that structurally may not always fulfill the function for which a disc is drawn. However it is imperative in this case even if a recapture of the discs is not achieved, to promote joint decompression.

The patient’s masticatory muscles were electronically deprogrammed and the mandible rest position was recorded with a jaw tracker.

A device for the three-dimensional repositioning of the mandible was constructed.

The patient presented a very large pathological interocclusal free space 13 mm, and a mandible retro position of two mm.

A healthy free interocclusal space of two mm was left in the DIO construction.

The records change as the system improves, and the devices are changed and recalibrated.

The three-dimensional mandibular rest position was recorded as an occlusal bite record, which was later used to make a DIO (intraoral device).

Patient’s comparative laminographies:  the superior in habitual occlusion before the treatment and the lower in the neurophysiological position wearing the DIO (intraoral device).

Patient comparative images: before the treatment and during treatment with the  DIO (intraoral device)

Lateral radiographs of the patient: in habitualocclusion and with the use of the DIO (intraoral device)

Patient’s comparative frontal images before and during the treatment with the DIO (intraoral device)

Patient’s comparative frontalradiographs:  before and during the treatment with the DIO (intraoral device)

Patient’s comparative postural images: before and during the treatment with the DIO (intraoral device)

Patient’s comparative frontal postural images smiling: before and during the treatment with the DIO (intraoral device)

Wearing  the orthotic, the first phase of implant placement begins.

Panoramic radiograph of the patient in neurophysiological occlusion with the DIO (intraoral device), after the installation of the first implants.

For the superior implants it was necessary to perform bone graft, 120 days after the bone graft the superior implants were placed.

Panoramic radiograph of the patient in neurophysiological occlusion with the DIO (intraoral device), after the installation of the remaining implants.

Intraoral device constructed in neurophysiological position with the implants installed.

Controlling the record of the intraoral device, the records change as the system improves, and the devices are changed and recalibrated.

The second phase with the three-dimensional orthodontics is started. Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontics in the second phase of the treatment of TMJ pathologies in this specific patient.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontics in the second phase of the treatment of TMJ pathologies in this specific patient.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontics in the second phase of the treatment of TMJ pathologies in this specific patient.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontics in the second phase of the treatment of TMJ pathologies in this specific patient.

Alignment and recovery of the lower sector with resins.

 The patient is tested with bioinstrumentation maintaining an aesthetic and functional result within the specific case.

Control of the neuromuscular trajectory in the rehabilitated patient.

Dynamic electromyographic record after completion of the patient’s second phase  treatment. Orthodontics and rehabilitation.

Completion of the TMJ pathology treatment, orthodontic and rehabilitative (in this specific clinical case).Neurophysiological rehabilitation was performed by Dr. João Sousa.

Subsequent rehabilitation was done keeping the vertical dimension with the device, but having to yield a little at the ideal height due to the patient’s bone conditions, rehabilitation possibilities and orthodontic limitations. The rehabilitation was done with metal ceramic crowns, and in the upper implants zirconia crowns in elements 14 and 15.

Patient’s upper and lower occlusal view after completion of the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s panoramic radiograph after completion of the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s laminography in neurophysiological occlusion after completion of the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s lateral radiograph after completion of the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s frontal radiograph after completion of the neurophysiological treatment.

Comparative patient occlusions before and after neurophysiological treatment.

Comparative occlusal views of the patient: before and after the neurophysiological treatment

Comparative panoramic radiographs of the patient: before during and after the neurophysiological treatment.

Subsequent rehabilitation was done keeping the vertical dimension with the device, but having to yield a little at the ideal height due to the patient’s bone conditions, rehabilitation possibilities and orthodontic limitations. The rehabilitation was done with metal ceramic crowns, and in the upper implants zirconia crowns in elements 14 and 15.

Patient’s postural comparative frontal images: before, during and after the  neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s postural comparative profile images: before, during and after the  neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s lateral comparative lateral radiographs: before and after the  neurophysiological treatment.

Main Symptoms:

1) Bilateral Tinnitus- This symptom bothered me greatly, especially in the silence of the night it was almost torture, today I do not feel anything else, so much that I have forgotten if I ever had tinnitus.

2) Strange sounds in both ears: I had difficulties to identify, I confused on which side came the sounds and voices.

3) Clenching and constant breaking of prostheses and restorations – I remember that this was the main reason why Dr. João told me to seek treatment.Today I use a orthotic to sleep and I never had any problems.

4) I had a great gift, which I did not expect and I was not looking for it either. Facial rejuvenation, to the point that some people do not recognize me as they pass me by. Others noticed the change and asked what I had done and more recently a friend asked me, what is the secret of growing young. I’m very happy, I’m much younger. Thank you Dr. Lídia, thank you Dr. João.

Temporomandibular Joint Pathology in a Patient with Congenital Fusion of two Cervical Vertebrae. First and Second Phase. Case Report.

When two adjacent vertebrae are fused since birth, the whole vertebral unit is called congenital vertebral block.

Embryologically this fusion is the result of an error in the normal process of segmentation of somites (segmented structure, formed on both sides of the neural tube) during the differentiation in fetal weeks.

Due to the existence of a mobile segment, free joints  (non-fused), on top and underneath the vertebral block, suffer more stress.

They may also produce an abnormal curvature of the spine.

Understanding the complex inter relation of craniomandibular disorders require a wide comprehension, not only on anatomy and physiology of head and neck, but also of the vertebral spine.

The cervical spine is the flexible link between the head and the trunk.

Male patient arrived to the clinic for consultation referring headache, pain behind the eyes mostly on the right side and pain on the right eyebrow.

States that, when he passes his fingertips on the left eyebrow toward the right side, reaching the center he feels pain.

Relates pain in both shoulders.

The patient reports pain and clicking in both temporomandibular joints. He also complaints from a crepitation sensation in both TMJ.

He refers a sensation of blocked ears and bilateral tinnitus.

The patient reports that he tightens the teeth all day, and also mentions nocturnal bruxism.

He also complaints of pain in the back of the neck and pain in the cervical spine.

In his clinical history he reported a car accident when he was 12 year old.

He also had a strong blow in his mouth and mandible. He underwent a surgery on  L3, L4 and L5 because of disk herniation.

 Patient’s habitual occlusion image before the treatment in the consultation day.  We can notice the  fractured superior incisors   and the absence of the left superior canine.

Superior and lower oclusal view of the patient before treatment. In this image we can see the wear of the lower incisors and the fracture of the upper central incisors.

Patient’s initial panoramic radiograph: we can observe the absence of the  18, 23, 28, 38 and 48 elements. We can also notice the maxillary sinus extension on the premolars and molars region.

Patient temporomandibular joint laminography before treatment: we can observe the superior and posterior position of the right condylar process in the articular cavity  and the lower posterior positioning of the left condylar process in the articular cavity when the jaw is in maximum intercuspidation position.

In the maximum open position, we can observe the anterior angulation of the articular processes. More significant on the left side. Flattening of  the posterior surface of the articular processes.

Patient’s frontal radiograph in habitual occlusion before treatment.

Lateral radiograph in conjunction with the profile image of the patient before treatment.

Patient’s lateral radiograph and cervical spine before treatment.

The arrow marks the FUSION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE  C3 and C4.

When two adjacent vertebrae are fused since birth, the whole vertebral unit is called congenital vertebral block.

Embryologically, this fusion is the result of an error in the normal process of segmentation of somites (segmented structure, formed on both sides of the neural tube) during the differentiation in fetal weeks.

Due to the existence of a mobile segment, free joints (non-fused), on top and underneath the vertebral block, suffer more stress.

They may also produce an abnormal curvature of the spine.

MRI TI: Sagittal slice sequence of the left TMJ closed mouth.

We can see that despite the anterior angulation of the articular process (because of one of the sequels of traumatism in infancy) the disc is positioned at the head of the mandibular condyle.  Notice that the health of the soft elements had been preserved, even so there is a compression of the retrodiscal elements at the level of the  neck flexioned angle  of the mandibular condyle.

MRI TI: Sagittal slice sequence of the left TMJ closed mouth.

We can see that despite the anterior angulation of the articular process (because of one of the sequels of traumatism in infancy) the disc is positioned at the head of the mandibular condyle.  Notice that the health of the soft elements had been preserved, even so there is a compression of the retrodiscal elements at the level of the  neck flexioned angle  of the mandibular condyle.

MRI TI: Sagittal slice sequence of the right TMJ closed mouth.

We can see that despite the anterior angulation of the articular process (because of one of the sequels of traumatism in infancy) the disc is positioned at the head of the mandibular condyle.  Notice that the health of the soft elements had been preserved, even so there is a compression of the retrodiscal elements at the level of the  neck flexioned angle  of the mandibular condyle.

MRI TI: Sagittal slice sequence of the right TMJ closed mouth.

We can see that despite the anterior angulation of the articular process (because of one of the sequels of traumatism in infancy) the disc is positioned at the head of the mandibular condyle.  Notice that the health of the soft elements had been preserved, even so there is a compression of the retrodiscal elements at the level of the  neck flexioned angle  of the mandibular condyle.

MRI TI: Sagittal slice  of the right and left TMJ, open mouth.

In the maximum open position, we can better observe the anterior angulation of the articular processes. More significant in the left side.

MRI TI: Frontal slice  of the right and left TMJ, closed mouth.

Initial kinesiographic record: significant loss of speed when the patient opens and closes his mouth. There is no coincidence between the opening and closing trajectories in the sagittal view record. The record  in the sagittal view looks very vertical when the patient opens and closes the mouth, which is  typical of deep overbites.

To properly evaluate the maxillomandibular relationship we  should start considering the physiological mandibular rest position.

Physiological rest is a concept, applicable to the rest of the body muscles.

The stomathognatic muscles are not the exception.

The masticatory muscles of the patient were  electronically deprogrammed and a new neurophysiological rest position was recorded.

The record showed a pathological free space of 11,8 mm and a retrusion of 2 mm.

Remember that the angulation of the mandibular condyle caused by trauma in early childhood led to a loss in the  vertical growth and a compression at the  level of the flexioned angle of the mandibular condyle neck.

   Click here To read more about traumatisms in childhood and the greenstick fractures of the mandibular process.

With the recorded data after the electronical mandibular deprogramming and the kinesiographic trace obtained with the jaw tracker, we constructed a  DIO (intraoral device), to mantain the tridimentional registered position.

This intraoral device must be tested to objectively measure the patient.

Kinesiographic record control of the DIO  (intra oral device), constructed in neurophysiological position. Neuromuscular trajectories  are coincident and the  interocclusal free space is now 2.4mm.

These controls must be performed PERIODICALLY DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF TREATMENT and also during the SECOND PHASE OF TREATMENT.
In the clinical cases published in the  TMJ STUDY AND INVESTIGATION PAGE  I post a minimum selection of the sequenced records obtained during the treatment.

It is important to remember that during the neurophysiological treatment the patient is measured and controlled during all treatment.

The patient presented problems in the three-dimensional localization of the mandibular condyle

Even that structurally the mandibular condyles had undergone changes in the growth axis due to trauma in early childhood, they did not presented lesions that prevented us (after the  improvement of the three-dimensional jaw location) to continue with the SECOND PHASE OF THE TREATMENT.

In this specific clinical case I decided NOT  to request a second MRI, since I didn’t need to control the improvement of the condyle disc complex nor the bone marrow signal.

The patient had remission of symptoms, allowing us to move on to the SECOND STAGE OF THE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL TREATMENT.

In the upper image we can observe from top to bottom:

Habitual occlusion of the patient before treatment.

Patient’s occlusion  with the DIO ( intraoral device)

Initiation of the  three-dimensional orthodontics, ALWAYS WITH DIO (intraoral device) built in neurophysiological position.

Installation of an upper removable expander.

Sequence in three-dimensional orthodontics with the expander and the movement of the first upper  premolar on the left side for the installation of a dental implant.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontics in this specific clinical case.

Sequence of the three-dimensional orthodontics in this specific clinical case and installation of the dental implant, because of the absence of the upper left canine.

The upper incisors were rehabilitated with resins to recover the aesthetics and functionality of the patient.

Patient’s panoramic radiograph:  control with the implant installed  and three-dimensional orthodontics during the neurophysiological treatment.

The DIO, (intraoral device) in neurophysiological position installed in the mouth during the Second Phase.

The lower incisors were rehabilitated with resins to recover the aesthetics and functionality of the patient.

The active eruption in the posterior sector was completed until the finalization of the second phase.

In this particular clinic case the active eruption sequence was not documented in images. For those who want to remember this THREE- DIMENTIONAL ORTHODONTICS I suggest to click on this link

The patient’s occlusion after neurophysiological treatment. First and second phase finished.

Patient’s comparative occlusion  images before and after the  neurophysiological treatment.

Upper and lower oclusal view of the patient after the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s comparative images of the upper and lower oclusal view before and after the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s panoramic radiograph after the first and second phase of the neurophysiological treatment.

Comparative panoramic radiographs: before treatment, during treatment and after completion of the three-dimensional orthodontics and neurophysiological rehabilitation.

Patient’s laminography after the first and second phase of the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s comparative lateral radiographs, before and after the neurophysiological treatment.

Patient’s comparative lateral radiograph and cervical spine before the FIRST PHASE and fter the finalization of the THREE DIMENSIONAL ORTHODONTICS and the NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL REABILITATION. 

In this case we cannot change a congenital fusion of the cervical vertebrae, but if we understand that there are myofascial chains that connect the TMJ to the body, we may then improve the three-dimensional location of the mandible and help the system. Naturally, the system is a whole and depending on each clinical case we will need the help help of professionals of different specialties.

Comparative frontal images of the patient: before and after the neurophysiological treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comparative profile images of the patient: before and after the neurophysiological treatment.

Some time ago, while searching for an orthodontic treatment for my first child, I got to know Clinica MY.

At that time my priority was in fact to search for a solution to correct a teeth problem that my son had. After some consultations at the clinic I met Dr. Lidia, which already in our firsts and brief talks, and because of some complaints that I shared with her, she diagnosed that I, much more than my son, had problems related to dysfunctions in the TMJ.

She told me that I needed to search for a treatment.

In that occasion I had many teeth problems as inferior and superior teeth wear, broken tips, crackling when chewing.

I had a lot of headaches, pain at the nape base and behind the eyes, and also pain on the back and shoulders. I also felt a pain sensation on my right eyebrow whenever I pass my hand on the forehead. It was something really strange and uncomfortable.

Happily this is something in the past. Thanks to the accurate diagnosis of Dr. Lidia and to the treatment that I followed strictly to the letter I am today free of those terrible symptoms.

I also would like to thank the careful work of Dr. Luis Daniel during all the treatment process and the attention and care that was given to me by all the Clinica MY team.