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At The Piper Clinic, we offer a variety of treatments services for the child and adult patient.

Children

Occlusion and growth - We use the latest diagnostic scanning techniques to evaluate the joint to determine whether the mandible is growing normally or whether there is lack of growth or a degree of structural loss in the joint contributing to the malocclusion (or bad bite).

Functional Appliances and Splints - Functional appliances and splints are used to possibly enhance growth and development of the teeth and mandible. We verify the success of functional appliance and splint therapy by scanning and tracking the patient’s progress.

Pain – Ear pain is the most common complaint of a young TMD patient. Most often pain is not a symptom in a child. Their bad bite is the number one symptom. Ear pain, neck pain and headaches are also possible symptoms. Popping of the jaw or limited opening may also be noted.

Adults

Occlusion and Growth – The best diagnostic tool we have to show the various changes in the occlusion and growth of the mandible is scanning. Scanning shows us the dimension of the joint. These scans will help guide us in developing the best treatment plan possible to manage a patient’s occlusion. Unfortunately, for many patients, scanning the joint is delayed until after the reconstruction is completed and the occlusal management has failed.

Skeletal – Scanning the head and neck also uncovers skeletal deformities caused by lack of growth (in a child) or degeneration (in an adult) of the joint’s anatomy.

Cosmetic – The first sign that something is wrong with a patient’s occlusion and the growth of the joint anatomy is what we can see on the outside.

Injections – To rule out the different sources of head and neck pain sometimes it’s necessary to perform a nerve block. Blocking specific nerves in the head and neck, we can assess whether the pain is caused by the TMJ or by some other source. Pain may come from multiple sources. Nerve blocks/injections may be used to sort pain sources from the TMJ, C-spine, neck or sympathetic nerve pain.

Pain Management - Pain management doctors may be used to further sort pain sources.

Splints – Splint therapy may improve or continue to damage the joint. Knowing when to splint and when not to splint is important. Before we make a splint, we want to understand what is happening (degree of disk displacement, condition of the joint structures) in the TMJ. Radiographs, such as CTs, and MR images tells what is happening in the joints.