The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD — can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
TMJ Treatment
What is TMJ Treatment?
- The exact cause of a person’s TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth, although many people habitually clench or grind their teeth and never develop TMJ disorders.In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders are temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed, but some people with TMJ disorders may benefit from surgical
- Pain or tenderness of your jaw
- Jaw clicking and popping, Aching pain in and around your ear
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
- Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth.
Multiple factors contribute to muscle tightness and dysfunction that characterize this condition. It is not clear whether some of these causes directly lead to TMJ syndrome or if they are a result of the disorder. Causes may include
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- Misalignment or trauma to the teeth or jaw,
- Teeth grinding
- Poor posture,
- Stress or Anxiety,
- Arthritis and other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders,
- orthodontic braces,
- Excessive gum chewing.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing TMJ disorders include:
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- Jaw injury
- Long-term grinding or clenching of teeth.
- Certain connective tissue diseases that cause problems that may affect the temporomandibular joint.
- Poor posture in the neck and upper back muscles may lead to neck strain and abnormalities of jaw muscle function.
- Patients with other chronic inflammatory arthritis have increased risk.
- People with jaw trauma or poorly positioned teeth have increased risk.
- People who have a genetic predisposition to pain sensitivity and increased stress responses may be more susceptible.
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Frequently asked questions
What Is TMJ syndrome?
TMJ is a sensitive joint that can sustain damage due to any injury or disease. The damages will lead to pain in the joint and surrounding areas. The pain and stiffness in the joint are known as TMJ syndrome.
What are the causes?
The causes of TMJ disorder may result from excessive nail biting, gum chewing, degenerative joint diseases, trauma/injury to the mouth, poor posture, stress, teeth grinding or rheumatoid arthritis.
Who is at risk?
TMJ disorder is a common problem that occurs mostly between the ages of 20 to 40; women are 4 times more prone to this syndrome.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?
There are a lot of symptoms of TMJ disorder from stiffness, headaches, dizziness, ear ache, clicking sounds when eating and talking, difficulty in chewing, popping sound in the ear, sore jaw muscles, or pain in the temple, neck or shoulder.
What is the treatment for TMJ?
While TMJ is quite easy to treat through home remedies, people need to seek professional medical treatments if home remedies are ineffective. In extreme cases a joint replacement surgery might be the solution of TMJ disorder.
What are the home remedies for TMJ?
Home remedies can treat normal cases of TMJ easily, the home remedies include
- Applying cold packs or heat pack to the affected joint
- Relaxation techniques such as massage can also release stress
- Eating soft foods will prevent further stress build up
- Aromatherapy or massage of some essential oils like lavender can also relax muscles and provide pain relief
What are medical treatments of TMJ syndrome?
Medical treatments for TMJ include physiotherapy, splint therapy, pain relieving medication, and arthroscopy. In rare cases, joint replacement surgery may be the treatment of choice.
What is splint therapy?
A splint is a mouth guard or a bite guard that one wears over teeth to prevent grinding, clenching of the jaw and other movements that can set off TMJ. The splint can be soft or hard after we customize it for the patient’s needs.
When the patient wears the splint, it relaxes the muscles in the mouth and also prevents teeth from other side effects of grinding. The splint supports the bite in the most favourable position to release tension in the jaw.
In which cases surgery is required?
In severe cases of TMJ, surgery might be necessary. There are two types of surgeries:
TMJ arthroscopy is a minor invasive surgery that can take place in a dental clinic. The recovery time is only one week.
Sometimes a total joint replacement is necessary as the last resort for treating TMJ syndrome. An oral surgeon will carry out this surgery that may require four to six weeks to heal.
How Long Will My TMJD Treatment Take?
You should see rapid relief from symptoms, but the length of treatment depends on how the severity of the condition. When TMJD is caught early, most patients have a shorter course of treatment.
Where is the temporomandibular joint located?
There are two temporomandibular joints – both are located in front of the ear where the jawbone attaches to the skull
Is bruxism the same as TMJ?
Bruxism, or the excessive grinding and clenching of your teeth, may be related to your TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), though it is not the same thing. Sometimes patients clench or grind their teeth without ever experiencing full-blown TMD, though it comes with its own risks. Bruxism can cause headaches and damage to your teeth by cracking them or wearing them down.
Often, an appliance is recommended to protect your teeth, just like with TMD. That way, while you are sleeping, your teeth are not pounding together, causing more damage. Because the appliance, or night guard, is made from a softer material than your enamel, it provides enough cushion and support to protect your teeth. If you clench or grind your teeth, investment in a night guard now could save you money in the end by helping you avoid expensive crowns and repairs to your damaged teeth. Caffeine use, alcohol use, and stress can all contribute to worsening bruxism. Cutting down on drinking cocktails and coffee is a good start. Learning to manage stress can help you in many ways, including reducing how much you grind your teeth.