What will a tmj mri show, and how will it help your treatment?

Very helpful!: A TMJ MRI is really the only way to visualize the structures of the temporomandibular joint without surgery. It will help your doctor decide on appropriate treatment or surgery. An MRI will show disc displacement, fluid collections, arthritis, muscle impingement, condylar degeneration and degeneration of the disc or bone. An MRI is usually necessary if you're considered a candidate for TMJ surgery.

Condition of joint: The MRI will show the condition of the temporomandibular joint including the bone of the temporal bone of the skull, the bone of the mandibular condyle, the soft disk between the two bones, and the ligaments and muscles that help control this complex system. The dentist can then determine what treatment is most appropriate depending on the condition of the parts of the tmj.

YES: A MRI is really valuable, especially when the symptoms with tmj/tmd are not subsiding- especially an open or closed lock- (cannot close or limited opening.) the severity of the trauma, if any, usally can dictate whether an MRI would help support a diagnosis. If there is locking or popping, then you pretty much can assume a disk (right, left or both) is displaced forward.

Shows joint anatomy: MRI exam of the TMJ is part of the current standard of care in the evaluation of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. The anatomic information obtained can be combined with the clinical information to guide treatment decisions. An understanding of the normal anatomy and biomechanics of the joint will aid the radiologist in evaluating patients with internal derangement of the joint.