CMD

You have chronic pain in your neck or upper back. Often headaches or migraines. Vision problems, tinnitus or hearing loss - and no doctor can find a plausible cause. You may then be suffering from craniomandibular dysfunction, or CMD for short.

In this clinical picture, the optimal position of the teeth when biting down and the optimal position of the temporomandibular joints are in an imbalance, which the temporomandibular joint resolves through a malposition. This often little discrepancy can cause serious health problems.

Chain reaction through the body

Due to frequent, incorrect loading, the jaw joints are permanently in an incorrect position forced by the teeth. The chewing muscles also do not work in the intended way. It tenses up and triggers facial pain, tinnitus, tension headaches and other symptoms. The tenseness often continues into the cervical spine and shoulder area. This can result in misalignment of the spine, which ultimately triggers discomfort in the back, hips and even knee joints. The effects of a wrong bite can be measured all the way down to the feet. A tiny domino falls and sets off a huge chain reaction.

The good news is that if we straighten the tiny domino, this can tackle a whole range of massive ailments at their source and heal them permanently.

CMD and other causes

CMD can be associated with very different symptoms. However, if you suffer from one or more of the following common symptoms, it makes sense to clarify whether CMD is present.

But not everything that looks like CMD is: The same symptoms can also indicate other medical conditions. Therefore, you should always consult your family doctor if you have any unclear symptoms.

Diagnosis: How to turn a suspicion into certainty

The diagnosis of CMD requires a great deal of experience.

First, the dentist checks the condition of the teeth, palpates the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory muscles. If he detects specific defects of the teeth, tension or pain in the muscles or joints, this indicates CMD.

He then tests the mobility of the lower jaw and guides it manually until the teeth are closed. If he detects a deviation between the first point of contact of the teeth and the final closing bite or if the mobility is restricted, a CMD is very likely.

X-rays help to rule out other causes. Whether the malocclusion is actually mainly responsible for the patient's complaints only becomes apparent in the course of dentokinetic therapy.

Symptoms that indicate CMD