Dr. Pilar’s Blog

TMJ Dysfunction and its Treatment Brought to a Level of Understanding for Doctor and Patient

Article by Dr. Mike Pilar, practice restricted to TMJ/TMD & Migraine

All the initial talk about treatment for TMJ, in many cases at the patient’s initial exam centers around their previous treatment experiences or explanation of their needed treatment by doctors indicating the need for muscle treated with medicines, Botox or other liquid injections or have jaw muscle physical exercises recommended or possible surgery needed. None of these entities should be initiated at the start of treatment. We do not consider treatment of muscles and jaw joints first because they are the victims of dysfunction. We must treat the source of the issue, not the victim. We consider this as PHASE 1 treatment. The idea is to take the patient out of pain initially by re-claiming normal joint and muscle movement followed by phase 2 treatment where we actually treat and fix the inadequacies of the bite and joint relationship, hopefully in conjunction with the patient’s referring dentist…. further explained below.

PHASE 1 TREATMENT – ANTERIOR DEPROGRAMER INSERTED
I fabricate a custom-made one- piece orthotic over the upper four front anterior teeth and I only allow the lower four front teeth to contact the upper appliance at any given time on the pre-determined plane of contact I’ve created at the base of the upper appliance. We are now restricting anterior vertical pressures to 20 pounds when the lower anterior teeth (four front teeth) contacting this upper orthotic plane of contact created by me. Upon this happening, we have eliminated massive muscle pressures up to 50% on the masseter muscle and temporal muscle pressures up to 70% reduction; no drugs capable of doing that.

There is no longer posterior contact of molars, bi-cuspids or canines on all movements. We have adjusted the vertical dimension space between the upper and lower jaw on closure to between 2 to 3 mm of space to allow freedom of comfortable sliding movement of teeth without upper and lower back teeth touching, which condition is created by the build-up of the vertical thickness of the upper appliance so as not to allow pressure of both condyles against the right and left ear wall assembly; that would possibly cause a feeling of “fullness” in the ears, a Eustachian tube blockage. All resulting in dizziness, imbalance, lightheadedness and brainfog condition with potential developing tinnitus, ear pain and eventual hearing loss.

Our resulting deprograming orthotic’s positive effects are freedom from condylar joint negative pressures along with constant equal movements of both joints in all directions all the time on wearing the orthotic. This important freedom of movement cannot be duplicated by any other orthotic made and is a major factor in the healing process of the joints. No longer can the condyle disrupt the temporal nerve in the joint area eliminating development of migraine / headache, sinus involvement, throat issues, eye muscle pain and trigger point connection to cervical area involving neck, shoulder and upper back pain.

This appliance can also be made over the lower teeth. However, the lower teeth do not afford as much support as the upper four front teeth. Orthotic must be custom-made as we cannot afford to incur any laboratory error. The laboratory cannot replicate the actual movements of the jaw and is at a major disadvantage in creating proper angles and thicknesses of the orthotic. The orthotic is too small and too definitive in its purposes. It is the controlling entity of a centric relationship you’ve created and movement of condyles equally on both sides without any interference. It takes time for the TMJ doctor to create it to perfection having the patient in the dental chair for same day direct material impression over upper front teeth to direct finish of the material to orthotic completion in the one visit and not the product of laboratory design and indirect laboratory fabrication taking one to two weeks of lab time.

By the first or second night, sleep is 100% better, migraines if existing are dissipating; general feeling is extremely better over a period of months and the jaw Joint relationship changes as the muscles get better and the muscle opening and closing arc is changing that’s resulting in certain teeth now possible to touch prematurely that didn’t touch before all now caused by vertical changes in muscle movement causing different angles of tooth contact on jaw closure. That’s when we start indiscriminate tooth reduction based on patient complaint. There are occasions, where at the initial visit of the orthotic fabrication, tooth balancing is necessary. That’s the first lesson with use of the orthotic to give us a stable centric occlusion so as we could see the differentiation between both right and left side tooth positioning.

When the patient is close to normal muscle condition, we can start PHASE 2 treatment and if needed, with a full bite reduction treatment concluding PHASE 1 treatment, by having the patient insert the orthotic into their mouth at a subsequent office visit months later in the dental chair and gradually we reduce the vertical height of the orthotic in the mouth. As we reduce the vertical height of the orthotic all done in the patient’s mouth, the posterior teeth get closer together. Interestingly, the teeth do not know what we’re doing only the muscles know and the muscles at this point are in good shape …so the muscles will determining which teeth are touching first, as we continually reduce the vertical thickness of the orthotic in the mouth causing the space between the upper and lower posterior teeth to be reduced.

RESULT
Again, as you are reducing the vertical height of the orthotic in the mouth, the posterior teeth are getting closer together. At some point certain teeth may touch first Those are the teeth to be reduced in height. You must remove the contact points until there is no upper and lower back teeth touching and you continue to make the orthotic smaller until the patient indicates that other teeth are now touching first… at one point you will arrive at a condition where all the back teeth on both sides are closing and touching the same time…you are now finished…all accomplished by the controlled reduction of the vertical size of the orthotic in the mouth. In the meantime all the tissues are healing and symptoms significantly gone.

The muscles are now better with a balanced bite. This is not to preclude the need for any extensive dental work in Phase 2 that may be needed….and we’ve certainly helped in creating the perfect condition for the phase 2 treatment.

Note: this treatment modality has been accomplished on most of the 3500 cases seen over the past 25+ years you can read my Google reviews and see firsthand patient response.

What I’ve Seen in My TMJ/TMD Practice Personally Examined Over 3,500 TMD Patients Over the Last 25 Years and Treated Most of them

 Online Journal of Dentistry & Oral Health 

 The Comment Below was Part of an Introduction for an Advanced Course in “Bite Equilabration Technique” Offered to Orthodontists 

“Important Connection Between TMD and Orthodontia” 

Conventional and even functional orthodontics share the same diagnostic dilemma as psychiatry, that is, they both do not have a diagnostic protocol to assess the baseline of patients before, during, and after treatment. The treatment objectives of orthodontics are admirable: straight teeth, a pretty smile, and functional temporo-mandibular joints. The one key component missing from the treatment objective equation is an occlusal cranial balance. The reason for this is that the orthodontic and dental profession does not know that they do not know that this component even exists. The only saving grace is the cranium’s ability to adapt to the distortions created by orthodontic treatment. Patients and dentists alike do not connect the dots between the occlusal cranial distortions they have created and the symptoms of trigeminal Neuralgia, atypical facial pain, migraine and tension headaches, cervical, low back pain, and more.” 

Pilar Views Follow…. 

1. Many Patients Share the Same Issue 

A) A surprising number of my female patients between the age of 17 and 32 have had one thing in common. 

B) All have had orthodontic treatment; and after treatment completed, some patients are still wearing their initial orthodontic retainer for years. 

C) As part of our initial exam most patients questioned never experienced their dentist asking them if they ever had headaches. 

D) Most migraine and headache patients have seen neurologist before coming to me. From my diagnostic experience, hardly ever does the neurologist examine the head and neck muscles, nor ask the patient about symptoms usually related to TMD. Their interest is strictly in having MRI of brain taken so as to rule out tumor or vascular involvement. When tumors are ruled out, only treatment given is muscle relaxant pills and hope for the best. 

E) Most TMJ/migraine patients I have examined have seen at least three to six medical professionals before coming to me. Those visited are Neurologist’s, ENT’s (ear, nose and throat), Primary Physicians, Pain Management doctors, Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Cranial-Sacral, Acupuncture, and Massage Therapy. 

F) Physicians look at patient symptoms as a disease entity not singularly or collectively as part of a dysfunction entity. Medication is the choice of treatment; not investigation for source. Initially, health professionals treat the patient symptom as possible tissue, nerve or bone disease. These patient TMD symptoms range from tension/stress, to headaches & brain fog & dizziness condition, to sinusitis, to visual disturbances, to ear pain, to jaw joint noises to throat / eye muscle issues / to neck & shoulder muscle contracture / to sleep deprivation & resulting daily yawning. These symptoms gyrate up and down over months to years before patients respond medically. 

G) Jaw joint dysfunction can be the result of genetic inheritance or environmental mishap or combination of both. The discomfort usually afflicting one side of the head first before the other side. 

H) Constant Jaw joint complex dysfunctional abuse leads to inflammation of bone and tissue that lead to eventual degeneration of muscle tissue and bone. 

I) TMD leads to muscle contracture of head and neck, which leads to disuse atrophy and major restrictive head and neck muscle movements 

J) The patient is usually not aware of the TMD teeth clenching of upper teeth to lower teeth during their restless sleep periods. 

K) The patient or the doctor is usually not aware of the connection of night time teeth clenching with dizziness, imbalance, ear congestion, ringing in the ears with potential hearing loss, and visual disruption. 

L) The patient and doctor many times fail to connect the migraine to erratic clenching of back teeth during sleep; in many cases the imbalance of upper to lower back teeth at 160 lbs to 300 lbs vertical/lateral abnormal movements being the causative agent…along with the accompanying condyle displacement / The elevator muscles of the head notably the Lateral pterygoids in spasm along with the Tensor veli palatini muscles in joint spasm closing off the eustachian tube and produce middle ear involvement, etc…. 

M) Imbalance of teeth (uppers to lowers) can originate via: 

1) Genetic inheritance of bone structure dictating erratic tooth position; or… 

2) Environmentally created impact of whiplash accidents; or… 

3) Faulty orthodontic intervention being a causative agent, when considering vertical and lateral movements of jaw are pre-determined during bone growth stage but now interfered with by orthodontic tooth movement to create a more esthetic alignment of teeth creating imbalanced tooth position, rather than normal jaw muscle control functioning with proper tooth position. This pre-determined re-positioning of teeth would be acceptable if a manual balancing of the teeth between uppers to lowers in all excursions under acceptable muscle condition were to be instituted prior to a full arch retainer being fitted. 

To emphasize, jaw joint movements are directed either by: 

1) Proper muscle control with normal bite, 

or… 

2) Poorly related teeth in faulty position to each other controlling jaw positioning and promoting night-time jaw clenching. 

3) Jaw-joint mal-development sometimes creating joint dysfunction, and muscle and bone inflammation leading to progressive degeneration. 

For Migraine Prevention… 

in my estimation, the only appliance that can effectively treat migraines and basic TMJ dysfunction is an anterior deprogramming orthotic device for the prophylactic treatment of medically diagnosed migraine pain and migraine associated tension headaches; and for the prevention of bruxism and TMJ syndrome by reducing trigeminally innervated muscular activity. Upper anterior orthotic is favored over lower orthotic based on greater surface area support. 

With this appliance in place we also reduce the muscle stress that normally occurs with posterior clenching from the aggressive 160 pounds up to 300 pounds of pressure on posterior occlusion to 20 lbs of acceptable pressure on anterior occlusion, resulting in 50% reduced masseter muscle stress and 70% reduced Temporal muscle stress. No pills can accomplish that. 

The Pilar orthotic is a deprograming stabilizing oral devise. It is fabricated chair-side with much detail resulting in a perfect fit controlling necessary joint movements in all directions. A laboratory processed orthotic will not have all the critical clinical refinements necessary for treatment success. For a dentist to refine a laboratory processed orthotic in “re-fitting and adjusting” is akin to you starting from scratch with border limitations that might not apply, it doesn’t work. 

The one-time belief that migraines are a primarily a vascular phenomenon is no longer viable. Today, most theories on the causes of migraines now include a trigeminal pathway, and cite the common peri-cranial muscular tenderness in migraine sufferers. There still exists a lack of objective evidence for a causative element for migraine pain, keeping the healthcare industry from isolating an acceptable means of prevention. I maintain along with my colleagues that Migraine/Tension Headache is not part of a disease entity as suggested by many of the health profession, unless we are dealing with a potential brain tumor or isolated vascular issue; it is a symptom of an underlying source. We address that source. Tension/stress & excess emotion is certainly part of the negative process along with the fact that 85% of the TMD affected population are woman. 

TOO BAD… THEY SHOULD ALL KNOW ABOUT THE ANTERIOR DEPROGRAMING ORTHOTIC. 

Acknowledgement 

None. 

Conflict of Interest 

No conflict of interest

Citation: Mike Pilar DDS*. What I’ve Seen in My TMJ/TMD Practice Personally Examined Over 3,500 TMD Patients Over the Last 25 Years and Treated Most of them. On J Dent & Oral Health. 6(2): 2022. OJDOH.MS.ID.000632. DOI: 10.33552/OJDOH.2022.06.000632. 

 

Care Philosophy……

This content was provided by Dr. Pilar”
As a TMJ/TMD doctor, I deal with “quality of life issues” At my age with 54 years of experience, it’s “give-back time” for me. I purposely treat and help elders with highly sophisticated TMJ custom-made appliance treatment under Medicare coverage. We can’t let that segment of our population be without the type of care I provide. ” I don’t know of any other TMJ Specialist in NJ or NY doing what I do for the elders. …and that concerns me.”

TMJ Disfunction…so little is known by most doctors&public

TMD….SO LITTLE UNDERSTOOD

My Practice is restricted to treatment of TMJ/TMD & Migraine & Tension Headache.WE TREAT THE SOURCE that in many cases causes the following symptoms to appear: Jaw clicking & clenching & pain. Ear ringing (tinnitus) & dizziness, Lightheadedness, Sleep disruption, Sinusitis, Ear congestion & pain, Neck & shoulder pain, Visual disturbance, Teeth grinding, Throat irritation, Jaw muscle pain, Jaw opening pain, Locked jaw.

I feel as though I am part of a very special breed of TMJ/TMD Practioners that are more successful than any other health professional group in the treatment of migraine originating from TMD/ TENSION STRESS. I go into great detail on my extensive, well focused web site www. DrMikePilar.com.

TMD is is either passed off by the medical community as untreatable or in many cases not even diagnosed. In addition, most migraine patients I initially see have been to neurologists where brain MRIs are taken, showing no tumors present. These patients are often treated with muscle relaxants and sent home. TMJ dysfunction is not taught in medical or dental school to any great detail. The health profession looks at patient symptoms through the eyes of disease, not dysfunction. The medical community for example classifies headaches as a disease and prescribes medication. The reality is most headaches are a symptom of a source, the source being the TMJ mal-function, effected elevator muscles, tooth imbalance and excited trigeminal nerve. That’s about everything we  attend to.

Further, pain management physicians routinely give TMD/migraine patients injections  temporarily treating TMD pain symptoms, with the physicians unable to find or treat the source of the patient’s pain. Many patients eventually end up researching and diagnosing their own condition after failed attempts by health professionals to guide them. The average new patient i see has been to at least three to six medical spectialty offices seeking treatment for TMD/ Migraine before seeing me.

Your TMJ/TMD Specialist in Westchester County

Dr. Mike Pilar, DDS, brings innovation and extraordinary experience in treating TMJ/TMD disorders, pain and trauma plaguing patients and prospective patients in Westchester County, NY, among the most populated counties in New York State  This includes ground-breaking treatments for migraines, headaches and jaw joint-related pain issues, as well as symptoms you may not associate with TMJ disorders. The temporomandibular joint is the source of most of the pain, trauma and other issues associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and Dr. Pilar’s practice has evolved into exclusively targeting and treating the symptoms of what is familiarly known as TMJ.

He brings his revolutionary, noninvasive program to those among the 940,000-plus resident of Westchester County who suffer from the multiple symptoms of TMJ. Whether you live in White Plains, Yonkers, Tarrytown or somewhere in between, Dr. Pilar brings hope to those with TMJ-related symptoms.  That means relieving oppressive pain from migraines and tension headaches, as well as head, neck and jaw-joint pain, without turning to surgery or prescription drugs.

Some TMJ Facts for You to Chew on…

Why did Dr. Pilar became so dedicated to assisting people who face each day with the multitude of symptoms stemming from TMJ that he chose to transition out of a successful dental practice to concentrate on the mysteries of the lower jaw, or mandible, whose movement is powered by the temporomandibular joint? The jawbone, with this joint opening, closing and applying movement and power, is able to exert amazing pressure during the process of chewing. It is this pressure, or its misappropriation, that can be the source of so many different kinds of pain.

The common TMJ-related disorders that Dr. Pilar treats with astonishing results include the following:

  • Tension headaches…
  • Migraines…
  • Jaw clicking and popping and jaw locking when attempting to open…
  • Grinding and clenching of upper and lower back teeth…
  • Sleep disruption from the associated TMJ pain…
  • An assortment of soreness, tightness and fatigue from the shoulders up through the neck and head…

These are common and logical conditions and symptoms one might expect to be associated with the powerful jawbone and its empowering joint. Then there is the gamut of symptoms that undermine your quality of life not commonly know to be connected with TMJ:

  • Ear congestion…
  • Sinus pain and congestion…
  • Dizziness, imbalance and lightheadedness…
  • Tinnitus or ringing in the ears…
  • Blurred vision/visual disturbances …

Three Approaches and No Drugs or Surgery!

Dr. Pilar’s incomparable experience in dealing with TMJ has resulted in an innovative three-pronged program that is highly effective in relieving the aforementioned symptoms for patients diagnosed with TMJ. These inventive and innovative treatments are determined via thorough intra-, oral- and extra-oral exams, as well as a muscle spasm/trigger point evaluation:

  1. Microcurrent Point Stimulation (MPS)— It starts with an analysis of the whole body to detect nerve impingement, acupuncture spots and other trigger-point locations. Trigger points are very sensitive, manifesting as knots or nodules in the muscle which can relay pain to another part of the body. The former is the primary trigger point and the latter a satellite trigger point. Left untreated the trigger point will settle deeper into the muscle, and satellite trigger points can become primary trigger point, each transporting pain elsewhere. MPS resolves these trigger points and eradicates them without surgery or drugs. It initially combines the principles of acutherapy, using ultra-low frequencies of both direct current and alternating electric stimulation to treat trigger points and relieve painful symptoms. Dr. Pilar is a pioneer in MPS treatments in the tri-state area, devoting well over a decade to perfecting his MPS delivery system.
  2. Pilar-Deprogramming/ Stabilizing “PULL-FORWARD “APPLIANCE” —  This appliance is the splint of choice when capturing and repositioning a reciprocal clicking disc. Patients most often hear the click initially on the left side and which may eventually be heard on both sides. This indicates your jaw is out of alignment.  Also, Dr. Pilar’s Orthotic eliminates contact between upper and lower back and side teeth, eradicating the associated head and neck muscular contractions, especially while sleeping. Each Pilar Orthotic is handmade onsite in great detail by Dr. Pilar for a perfect fit.

  3. Cold Laser Therapy—Cold laser treatment, relying on pure infrared energy, is typically comprised rapid treatment sessions of one to two minutes. Amazing results may be achieved when used in combination with MPS and the Pilar orthotic appliance. There is no stronger FDA-approved Class IV cold laser available for treatment of the pain of headaches, migraines and TMD. And yet it a painless procedure. This therapy applies a beam of light over the injured area to stimulate healing. Biological reactions are triggered in the cells when laser light is absorbed by a living tissue. It not only helps release constricted muscles often responsible for chronic pain, joint problems and decreased mobility, but it promotes faster bone repair.

—Get help for TMJ Trauma today! Westchester County residents, all TMJ Specialist Dr. Pilar direct for a  treatment consultation: (917) 414-8355

 

Re-located:   Our Office is located at 516 Route 303. Tappan, NY 10983. Office is called “Premier Dental”

 

Dr. Pilar's TMJ Mouth Guard/Orthotic

Rockland County’s Specialist in Treating TMJ/TMD

Dr. Mike Pilar, DDS, specializes in treating TMJ/TMD disorders, pain and trauma affecting patients and prospective patients in Rockland County, NY, from his offices in Tappan. This includes revolutionary treatments for jaw joint-related pain, as well as for migraines and headaches. The temporomandibular joint is the source of most of the pain, trauma and other issues associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and Dr. Pilar’s practice has evolved into exclusive treatment to target and treat the symptoms of what is familiarly known as TMJ.

He brings his ground-breaking, non-invasive program to suffering residents of the towns and villages and boroughs of family-friendly Rockland County— from the Nyacks to New City, Haverstraw, and Chestnut Ridge. He brings the promise of relieving oppressive pain from headaches and migraines, as well as head, neck and jaw-joint pain, without having to resort to surgery.

Jawbone Joint Triggers Symptoms…

Dr. Pilar became so dedicated to assisting people who face each day with the multitude of symptoms stemming from TMJ, that he transitioned out of a successful dental practice to concentrate on the mysteries of the mandible, or lower jaw, whose movement is powered by the temporomandibular joint. The jawbone, thanks to this joint, is able to exert amazing pressure during the process of chewing. It is this pressure or its misallocation, that can be the source of so many different kinds of pain.

The common TMJ disorders that Dr. Pilar treats with amazing success include the following:

  • Tension headaches…
  • Migraines…
  • Jaw clicking and popping and jaw locking on attempt to open…
  • Clenching of upper and lower back teeth…
  • Sleep disruption from the associated TMJ pain…
  • A spectrum of soreness, tightness and fatigue from the shoulders up through the neck and head…

These are common and logical conditions and symptoms one might expect to be associated with the powerful jawbone and its enabling joint. But there are other symptoms that degrade the quality of life you might not connect with TMJ:

  • Tinnitus or ringing in the ears…
  • Dizziness, imbalance and lightheadedness…
  • Ear congestion…
  • Sinus pain and congestion…
  • Visual disturbance brought about by some of the preceding conditions, notably migraines…

Innovative Treatment without Drugs or Surgery!

Dr. Pilar offers a three-pronged program that has proven to be highly effective in relieving the aforementioned symptoms for patients diagnosed with TMJ. These inventive and innovative treatments are determined via thorough intra-, oral- and extra-oral exams, as well as a muscle spasm/trigger point evaluation:

  1. Microcurrent Point Stimulation (MPS)— It starts with an analysis of the whole body to detect nerve impingement, acupuncture spots and other trigger-point locations. Trigger points are extremely sensitive, manifesting as knots or nodules in the muscle that can relay pain to another part of the body. The first is the primary trigger point and the last a satellite trigger point. Left untreated the trigger point will hunker down deeper into the muscle, and satellite trigger points can become primary trigger point, each transporting pain elsewhere. MPS resolves these trigger points and is a noninvasive treatment to eradicate them. It initially combines the principles of acutherapy, using both direct current and alternating electric stimulation at very low frequencies to treat trigger points and relieve painful symptoms. Dr. Pilar was the first MPS practitioner in the tri-state area and claims more than a decade behind his perfection of his MPS delivery system.
  2. Pilar-Type NTI— A custom-modeled muscle orthotic (orthopedic appliance) device that is a special mouth guard called the Pilar-Type NTI. Dr. Pilar’s mouth guards eliminate contact between the upper and lower side and back teeth, eliminating the associated head and neck muscular contractions, especially during sleep. Each Pilar-Type NTI is handmade in great detail onsite by Dr. Pilar for a perfect fit.
  3. Cold Laser Therapy— Producing pure infrared energy, cold laser treatment provides rapid treatment times of two minutes or under. Phenomenal results may be achieved when used in combination with the Pilar-Type NTI orthotic and MPS. This is the most powerful, FDA-approved Class IV cold laser on the market for treatment of the pain of headaches, migraines and TMD, but it a painless procedure. This therapy applies a beam of light over the injured area to stimulate healing. When laser light is absorbed by a living tissue, it triggers biological reactions in the cells. It not only helps release tight muscles that create chronic pain, joint problems and decreased mobility, but it promotes faster bone repair.

—Get help for TMJ Trauma today! Call TMJ Specialist Dr. Pilar direct for a TMJ treatment consultation: (917) 414-8355

 

Rockland County Office: 93 Route 303. Tappan, NY 10983

Dr. Mike Piilar DDS TMJ Expert

Tri-State TMJ Pioneer Treats Bergen County NJ Residents

Residents of Bergen County, NJ, are part of the Tri-State Area directly served by Dr. Mike Pilar, DDS, a specialist in treating TMJ/TMD disorders and the resultant pain and trauma affecting patients and prospective patients in New Jersey’s most populous county of some 950,000 people. This includes pioneering and state-of-the-art treatments for jaw-related pain, as well as for migraines, headaches and an assortment of other symptoms.

The source of most of the pain, trauma and other issues associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), is the temporomandibular joint. Dr. Pilar transitioned a successful dental practice into exclusive treatment protocols to target and treat the symptoms of what is familiarly known as TMJ.

Bergen County sits across the Hudson River from Manhattan with the George Washington Bridge as their direct connection, and Dr. Pilar’s practice includes Bergen County residents who suffer from pain and other life inhibiting symptoms wrought by TMJ. Whether you live just across the Hudson in Fort Lee or Tenafly, the heavily populated county seat of Hackensack, or Hoboken, Lyndhurst, New Milford and points beyond and between, Dr. Pilar brings the promise of relief from the oppressive pain of headaches and migraines, as well as an array of symptoms you might be surprised are TMJ-related. You’ll be amazed that relief is at hand without having to resort to surgery or painkillers.

Powerful Joint Triggers Multitude of Symptoms…

TMJ Expert: Doctor Mike Pilar DDSDr. Pilar dedicated his practice to assisting people who face each day with the multitude of symptoms stemming from TMJ. He was determined to solve the mysteries of the mandible, or lower jaw, whose movement is powered by the temporomandibular joint. The movement and power of the lower jaw is provided by this joint, which exerts amazing pressure during the process of chewing. It is this pressure, as well as inherent dysfunctions, that are the source of so many different kinds of pain and other detrimental health issues.

The common TMJ disorders that Dr. Pilar treats with amazing success include the following:

  • Tension headaches…
  • Migraines…
  • Sleep disruption from associated TMJ pain…
  • Jaw clicking and popping and jaw locking on attempt to open…
  • Clenching and grinding of upper and lower back and side teeth…
  • Soreness, tightness and fatigue from the shoulders up through the neck and head…

These are conditions and symptoms one might expect to be associated with the powerful jawbone and its enabling joint. But there are other health impairments negatively affecting your quality of life you might not suspect are related to TMJ:

  • Ringing in the ears or tinnitus…
  • Dizziness, imbalance and lightheadedness…
  • Ear congestion…
  • Sinus pain and congestion…
  • Blurred vision and other visual disturbances…

Three Proven Ways to Relief from TMJ!

Dr. Pilar’s program works because of there proven ways, either individually or in concert, to relieve the aforementioned symptoms for patients diagnosed with TMJ. These inventive and innovative treatments are determined via thorough intra-, oral- and extra-oral examinations, including a muscle spasm/trigger point evaluation:

  1. Microcurrent Point Stimulation (MPS)— Before any of his treatment protocols, Dr. Pilar begins with a full-body analysis in search of nerve impingements, acupuncture spots and other trigger-point locations. Trigger points are hypersensitive, manifesting as knots or nodules in the muscle that can relay pain to another part of the body. Primary trigger points, in other words, may create a satellite trigger point elsewhere. Left untreated the trigger point will settle deeper into the muscle, with satellite trigger points becoming primary trigger points, each transporting pain elsewhere. MPS finds and neutralizes these trigger points, eradicating them without pain, drugs or surgery. Using both direct current and alternating electric stimulation at very low frequencies to treat trigger points and relieve painful symptoms, this treatment combines the principles of acutherapy,. Dr. Pilar, a pioneer in the field, was the first MPS practitioner in the tri-state area, perfectng of his MPS delivery system over the span of more than a decade.
  2. Pilar-Type NTI— a special mouth guard called the Pilar-Type NTI is a custom-modeled muscle orthotic device or orthopedic appliance. that is Dr. Pilar’s mouth guards eliminate contact between the upper and lower side and back teeth, thus eradicating associated head and neck muscular contractions, especially during sleep. Each Pilar-Type NTI is made by hand in scrupulous detail onsite by Dr. Pilar for a perfect fit.
  3. Cold Laser Therapy—Cold laser therapy, producing pure infrared energy, is a rapid treatment that requires just two minutes or less. Extraordinary results may be achieved when used in combination with the Pilar-Type NTI orthotic and MPS. This is the most powerful, FDA-approved Class IV cold laser on the market used to treat the pain of headaches, migraines and TMD. Yet the procedure itself is painless. A beam of light is applied over the injured area, stimulating healing when absorbed by living tissue. It eases and frees tight muscles that create chronic pain, joint problems and curtail mobility, at the same time promoting faster bone repair.

—Get help for TMJ Trauma today! Residents of Bergen County, NJ, call TMJ Specialist Dr. Pilar for a treatment consultation: (917) 414-8355

 

TMD /TMJ & MIGRAINE ISSUES, WORTH REPEATING

 

My Practice is restricted to treatment of TMJ/TMD & Migraine & Tension Headache which yield the following symptoms: Jaw clicking & clenching & pain. Ear ringing (tinnitus) & dizziness, Lightheadedness, Sleep disruption, Sinusitis, Ear congestion & pain, Neck & shoulder pain, Visual disturbance, Teeth grinding, Throat irritation, Jaw muscle pain, Jaw opening pain, Locked jaw. I feel as though I am part of a very special breed of TMJ/TMD Practioners that are more successful than any other health professional group in the treatment of TMJ issues/migraine and tension headache. I go into great detail on my web site www. ‘ DrMikePilar.com ‘

TMD is is either passed off by the doctor as untreatable without medication or in many cases not even diagnosed. In addition, most migraine patients I initially see have been to neurologists where brain MRIs are taken, showing no tumors present. These patients are often treated with muscle relaxants and sent home.

Further, pain management physicians routinely give TMD/migraine patients injections (Botox. etc.) temporarily treating TMD pain symptoms, with the physicians unable to find or treat the source of the patient’s pain. Many patients eventually end up researching and diagnosing their own condition after failed attempts by health professionals to guide them. Thank you internet and google.

Dr.Pilar can help you, call (917) 414-8355