TMD or TMJ Disorder is the blanket term that refers to any issue that keeps this complex system of discs, bones, ligaments and muscles from functioning properly.
It is commonly caused by trauma to the jaw, osteoarthritis, or genetic jaw misalignment. However, you may still want to see a dentist to determine whether your temporomandibular joint is being affected. Diagnosing and correcting the problem before it actually starts causing you pain is rare in dentistry, but can save your future self a lot of time, discomfort, and money!
Your dentist will be able to determine whether you are suffering from TMD by conducting an examination, reviewing your dental and medical history, and taking appropriate X-rays. If you do have TMD, there are a variety of treatment options available, based on the severity of your issue. These include changes in behavior, pain medications, muscle relaxers, steroid injections, oral splints, and physical therapy.
If the treatments above are ineffective at eliminating your symptoms, minor arthroscopic surgery is usually enough to solve the issue. In some cases, patients may require extensive jaw replacement surgery, especially if the jaw joint has begun to degenerate due to trauma, osteoarthritis, or a genetic disorder.
The proper biological name for the lower jaw is the mandible and maxilla for the upper jaw. The mandible is the portion that moves during eating, talking and swallowing. The jaw joint itself is located just in front of the skin flap immediately in front of the ear.
The biological name for the jaw joint is known as The Temporomandibular joint. The basic structure of the joint is much like other joints in that you have two bones separated by cartilage and synovial fluid fills the joint capsule.
Normal Functioning Jaw: Normal opening - The disc, which is shown in yellow, is in the proper position and it glides forward and back when the jaw is opened.
As previously mentioned, if your TMJ clicks, that is not something you immediately need to do anything about unless if you also notice other signs, then you should get it evaluated by your dentist or an Orofacial pain specialist.
These signs are if your jaw locks, pain around the joint area, unexplained ear ache if there is pain on opening or closing, if you get frequent headaches especially on waking up in the morning and if you notice you unconsciously grind your teeth or clench your jaw. Once you experience pain or spasm around your TMJ, this then becomes a reason to visit an Orofacial pain specialist. This condition is known as Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Temporomandibular disorder or Temporomandibular syndrome and is frequently accompanied by clenching or grinding bruxism. Even if the pain is not that severe, bruxism can seriously damage and crack the enamel of your teeth until it completely wears down. Enamel of your teeth does not have the capacity to grow back so once the enamel has worn down it will never grow back.
Once the enamel has disappeared, you are down to the underlying softer part of the tooth called dentin. If the clenching and grinding continues, the dentin will wear away much faster and before long, you will notice sensitivity as you get closer to the nerves inside your teeth. For certain, you will also definitely become aware of your teeth becoming shorter and flatter around the edges as they wear away. As your teeth become shorter this in itself places extra strain on your TMJ.
Popping or clicking jaw : The disc, which is shown in yellow, is forward of the jaw bone. When the jaw is opened, the disc clicks or pops, and then the jaw follows its normal opening. A pop or click can be heard when the jaw is closed. Closed lock: The disc is forward of its normal position and it prevents the jaw from fully opening.
This is called a closed lock or anterior displacement without reduction. Grinding also tightens the muscle around the joint. Long term straining of these muscles might damage the delicate balance required to keep the jaw joints working in sync. If the dentist determines grinding is a factor for you, he will create a mouth guard designed to protect the teeth.
You may need to look for ways to manage stress, as well, or require a muscle relaxant to allow the connective tissue time to heal. A jaw-popping between the two joints, putting excess stress on one of them. The pain and popping will be more prevalent on one side if bite misalignment is the cause. You may also hear ringing in the ear on that side. Bite misalignment is a dental problem that can cause grinding and clenching of the teeth, as well. How the dentist goes about correcting a bite misalignment depends on the location and severity.
In some cases, an orthodontic treatment like Invisalign will help relieve the pressure. Reshaping or reconstruction may work in less pronounced cases or when teeth are broken or missing.
Arthritis is a medical term that refers to inflammation that affects the way joints move. Simply put, the same thing that makes knees creak and elbows pop can affect the jaw joints, as well. If the dentist determines arthritis is the cause of the TMD, he may prescribe physical therapy with ultrasound to strengthen the jaw muscles.
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