It is not uncommon to hear cases of misdiagnosed and undiagnosed TMD ( Temporomandibular joint disorder) since the diagnosis is somewhat complicated and the syndrome, itself, lacks concrete symptoms and causes.
At Advanced Dental Care Clinic most of the diagnostic tests are completed within the practice for your convenience and comfort.
At present, there are several widely accepted and practiced TMJ diagnostic tests available. These consist of the patient's description of the symptoms and their physical examination to determine the occurrence of the syndrome and the appropriate interventions to be used.
Prior to using the specific equipment to analyse TMD, a full dental examination is performed including necessary x-rays, photographs and a CT scan called the iCAT.
To diagnose TMJ disorder, the following systems are used:
- K7 Evaluation System
A refined and computerized diagnostic system that aids in diagnosing TMD dysfunction as it supplies the pertinent information regarding the status of the jaw, its movement, and the behaviour of its muscles.
- Computerized Mandibular Scanning
CMS involves the use of a very light frame device with eight sensors on the face and the head. A very small magnet is affixed into the lower jaw while the sensors monitor it as you move your jaw. There are three directions of movements that it tracks—the front and back, up and down, and sideways.
- Joint Sonography
With the use of recording equipment and lightweight headset, the K7 system records all the sounds that the jaw joints make. The information is used in the analysis of the produced sounds with the jaw's exact position.
- Electromyography.
EMG is the device that measures the relaxation state of the jaw muscles. The tiny electrodes are able to detect more electrical energy from the muscles when they become tenser.
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