TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Treatment

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. People have two TMJs; one on each side of the jaw. You can feel them by placing your fingers in front of your ears and opening your mouth.

There are three main classes of TMDs:

  • Disorders of the joints, including disc disorders.
  • Disorders of the muscles used for chewing (masticatory muscles).
  • Headaches associated with a TMD.

There are several disorders within each class.

Many TMDs last only a short time and go away on their own. However, in some cases they can become chronic, or long lasting. In addition, TMDs can occur alone or at the same time as other medical conditions such as headaches, back pain, sleep problems, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Temporomandibular disorders are twice as common in women than in men, especially in women between 35 and 44 years old.

Causes

Injury to the jaw or temporomandibular joint can lead to some TMDs, but in most cases, the exact cause is not clear. For many people, symptoms seem to start without obvious reason. Recent research suggests a combination of genes, psychological and life stressors, and how someone perceives pain, may play a part in why a TMD starts and whether it will be long lasting.

Because TMDs are more common in women than in men, researchers are exploring whether the differences in TMJ structure and mechanics between females and males may play a role.

Symptoms

It is important to know that sounds (such as clicking or popping) without pain in the TMJs are common, are considered normal, and don’t need treatment.

However, the following symptoms may signal a TMD:

  • Pain in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint (most common symptom).
  • Pain that spreads to the face or neck.
  • Jaw stiffness.
  • Limited movement or locking of the jaw.
  • Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth.
  • Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or dizziness.
  • A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.

Diagnosis

There is no widely accepted, standard test available to diagnose TMDs. Because the exact causes and symptoms are not clear, identifying these disorders can be difficult.

Your doctor or dentist will note your symptoms and take a detailed medical history. He or she will ask questions about your pain, including its location, when it occurs, what makes it better or worse, and if it stays in one area or spreads to other parts of your body. The doctor or dentist will also ask if you have other pain conditions such as headache or back pain.

He or she also will examine your head, neck, face, and jaw for tenderness; jaw clicking or popping; or difficulty with movement. The doctor or dentist might also suggest imaging studies such as an x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT).

Pain in the mouth, jaw, or face may or may not be related to TMDs. Your doctor or dentist may have to rule out other conditions before diagnosing a TMD.

Treatment

Before receiving treatment for TMDs, you should know:

  • Sounds without pain in the temporomandibular joints are normal, happen frequently, and do not need treatment.
  • Signs and symptoms of TMD go away in many people without treatment.
  • Because evidence is lacking for the majority of TMD treatments, experts strongly recommend staying away from treatments that cause permanent changes to the jaw joints, teeth, or bite; or that involve surgery.

Nonsurgical Treatments

  • Physical Therapy
  • Self-management and Behavioral Health Approaches
  • Medications
  • Intraoral Appliances
  • Complementary Treatments

Surgery and Other Medical & Dental Procedures

  • Occlusal Treatments
  • Botulinum Toxin
  • Prolotherapy
  • Arthrocentesis
  • Arthroscopy
  • Surgery
  • TMJ Implants

Frequently Asked Questions

Causes of TMJ disorder may vary for each patient, but frequently reported causes include the following:

  1. Injury to the face, head or neck
  2. Bruxism, which also is referred to as teeth grinding or clenching
  3. Arthritis, emanating from the temporomandibular joint
  4. Dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket of the temporomandibular joint
  5. Stress, which causes you to tighten the muscles of your face and jaw or clench and grind your teeth
  6. Missing teeth
  7. Misaligned or crooked teeth

The exact symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary widely from case to case. However, patients with TMJ disorder regularly report the following:

  • Pain in the jaw, teeth, neck, or back
  • A clicking or popping sound when opening and closing the jaw
  • Locking jaw, or limited range of motion in the jaws
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Malocclusion, which also is known as a misaligned bite
  • Ringing, stuffiness, or congestion in the ears

Another common symptom of TMJ disorder is painful headaches, which may be severe or misdiagnosed as migraines. These headaches may feel like migraines or be of migraine-like intensity, but they do not respond well to conventional migraine treatments.

Our dentists will examine your bite and temporomandibular joints for possible pain and tenderness.

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TMJ Disorder