Adult Orthodontics

TMJ pain (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction or TMD) affects over 3 million people each year in the United States. It consists of pain in the jaw joint and/or surrounding muscles and associated difficulty opening. Some patients experience mild pain and discomfort, while others can experience severe pain that drastically interferes with normal function and quality of life. Individual patients may experience a wide range of severity at different times. TMD is highly correlated with stress. The majority of those who experience TMD are over the age of 20, however, it can occur in children and teenagers.

What is the cause of TMJ Pain (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction- TMD)?

1. The majority (almost 70% according to most research) of TMJ Pain is caused by overuse and inflammation of the muscles around the jaw joint.  TMJ pain can also less commonly be caused by functional problems within the joint itself.
2. TMJ pain is often caused by muscle overactivity that occurs during times of stress, and as a result of clenching and/or grinding.
3. A significant portion of the population will experience TMJ pain at some time throughout life and symptoms tend to improve with time through conservative measures (see below):

Seven Simple Solutions for Relief of TMJ Pain:

1. DIET: Soft foods (prevents over activity of chewing muscles)
2. MOTRIN: Motrin/Advil (doses as indicated on bottle) periodically when pain is at its worst (reduces both pain and muscle inflammation)
3. HEAT: Use a heating pad to apply heat to the side of the face near the TMJ for 15 minutes on both sides each night before bed.
4. STRETCH: Stretching exercises to open your mouth as wide as you can without pain to stretch muscles around the jaw and facilitate muscle lengthening and relaxation (2x/day for 5 min each)
5. NIGHTGUARD/RETAINER: A clear nightguard or retainer on upper and/or lower teeth to be worn while sleeping to help to keep your teeth apart and relax the muscles around the TMJ. This should be made and adjusted by an orthodontist or dentist.
6. HABITS: Avoid repetitive chewing habits that cause your muscles to function continuously like chewing on pen caps, chewing on nails, or chewing gum all day long (chewing gum for a few minutes several times per day is ok).
7. RELAXATION: Studies show that TMJ pain and muscle overuse is highly correlated with general life stress. Exercise, good sleep habits, and finding time during the day to mentally and physically relax helps to improve symptoms significantly.

**All therapies above should be monitored by your orthodontist or dentist.

We are committed to help you feel better! This protocol is effective in providing significant relief for a large percentage of patients. If these conservative methods are not effective, we can refer you to a facial pain center for more advanced diagnosis and treatment.

We are here to help you!  Call us at DCO (610-615-3166) with any questions- we would love to assist you!

1. Say thank you to the entire military family:

When you thank a veteran, be sure to also thank his or her family...for all of their service to our country.
–Sheila Marcelo, CEO Care.com

In her article, A Veterans Day Thank You To Military Families, Care.com CEO Sheila Marcelo underscores the importance of recognizing the profound sacrifices that military families make. This sacrifice includes children, spouses, siblings and parents and extends well beyond the length of a specific military deployment, especially for those Veterans who are wounded in service to our country.

2. Great Veterans Day activities for kids:

Attending parades, reading books, visiting a VA hospital, raising money for wounded warriors, talking about freedom and sacrifice, and saying thank you to a veteran you know are great ways to teach the importance of Veterans Day to your children.

3. Learn some facts you may not know about military families: 

The average military family moves every 2-3 years

Both parents can be deployed simultaneously

Average military children change schools 6-9 times

Military families often have to give up their beloved pets- but programs exist to voluteer to foster these animals until they can be reconnected with their families

There are 5.5 million military caregivers providing support and care to wounded military family members or spouses

Read more interesting facts about military families

Lastly, a tribute to DCO's favorite veteran, Dr. Cassarella's father and biggest hero who served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He earned two Bronze Stars for his bravery in service to our country. This is a small excerpt from a 1992 interview in which he talks about his experience in Vietnam.

Thank you to all of our Veterans and their families!

(Blue Bell, PA) Nearly all adult DCO patients treated with Invisalign share a common regret: “I wish I had done this sooner.”  For many working professionals, lack of time is the key deterrent to reaching the smile and healthy bite they have long been seeking. Because time is your most precious resource, we have optimized our treatment systems to allow for a flexible, efficient treatment process for all of our adult patients.  We have designed our processes to utilize high-level technology to drastically reduce your number of appointments while achieving the best outcome. This makes treatment more convenient for you.  We have strategically harnessed the power of innovative technology and careful patient-specific treatment planning and staging. We set the exceptionally high target of having your decision to be treated with Invisalign at DCO be the best decision you have ever made. Below are four ways we deliver this to our patients:

1. Treatment experience: We prioritize personalization and customization to specifically accommodate your needs.  Travel out of the country for work?  No problem. Busy schedule? No problem. Going on an extended vacation? No problem. Our Experience Concierge will ensure that your needs are being met, every step of the way.
2. State-of-the-art technology and facility: DCO was designed from scratch to specifically give privacy and comfort to adult patients.  Read more details about the DCO Digital Experience and how we have selected technologies to enhance your treatment results and make the process more streamlined for you.
3. Exceptional clinical care: Dr. Cassarella is highly trained and skilled orthodontic specialist with over 10 years of experience practicing orthodontics exclusively. He is a graduate of the Penn State Schreyer Honors College and trained at Harvard University (4-year DMD degree) and UCLA (3-year Orthodontics Residency).  Dr. Cassarella also holds an appointment as a clinical orthodontic faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania.
4. We begin by listening:  Our most important source of information throughout your treatment is YOU. Our most important metric for success is your happiness.

The pathway to your perfect smile in a manner that fits your lifestyle is clear. We can’t wait to meet you!