TMJ dysfunction symptoms and treatment…
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Grinding your teeth, suffering from frequent headaches, dizziness, stiff neck, ear ache, neck & back pain or popping jaw joints? These are TMJ symptoms and you may be one of the many undiagnosed TMJ Dysfunction sufferers.
The TMJ Joint (Temporomandibular Joint) refers to the two joints located in front of the ears, and is located where the upper and lower jaw connect. These joints attach the lower jaw to the skull and are important in several ways. The TMJ Joint is responsible for performing functions such as opening and closing the mouth, chewing, swallowing, breathing, talking and yawning.
Importance of TMJ treatment
TMJ Dysfunction can be extremely painful and cause chronic facial pain for sufferers including headaches. The key contributor to TMJ Dysfunction is stress. Stress causes the patient to clench down on the jaw, which compresses the jaw points and eventually results in bad bite. TMJ treatment is able to alleviate pain caused in this area.
Is it right for you?
Are you having trouble with your jaw? TMJ symptoms develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth or you may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disc within the joint, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or a grating noise when you open your mouth, or restriction when attempting to open your mouth wide.
You may be suffering from a TMJ disorder if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?
- Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?
- Do you frequently suffer from headaches or neck aches?
- Does the pain get worse when you clench your teeth?
- Does stress make your clenching and pain worse?
- Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth?
- Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat or yawn?
- Have you ever injured your neck, head or jaws?
- Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints?
- Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?
- Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
- Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?
- Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken or worn?
What’s involved?
Treatment for TMJ Dysfunction varies depending on the severity of each individual case. If you are experiencing TMJ symptoms you should consult with your dentist and he or she will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for you.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint is the joint of the jaw located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet, it is frequently referred to as TMJ.
There are two TMJs, one on either side, working in unison. The TMJ is responsible for moving the lower jaw forward, backward and side-to-side.
Pain or dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint is commonly referred to as TMJ.
TMJ disorders are not uncommon and have a variety of symptoms. Patients may complain of earaches, headaches and limited ability to open their mouth. They may also complain of clicking or grating sounds in the joint and feel pain when opening and closing their mouth. What must be determined, of course, is the cause.
What causes TMJ?
There are many possible causes of TMJ. Disorders of the teeth can contribute to TMJ dysfunction. Patients affected by TMJ may frequently clench or grind their teeth at night causing painful spasms in the muscles and difficulty in moving the jaw. Tooth mobility and tooth loss can be caused by destruction of the supporting bone and by heavy forces being placed on teeth.
Movement of the teeth affects how they contact one another when the mouth closes, and the overall relationship between the teeth, muscles, and joints can be altered.
What are the symptoms of TMJ?
When symptoms of TMJ trouble appear, you should consult your dentist who will then make an accurate diagnosis of TMJ disorder. This may be made through the use of special images of the joint in consideration with your medical and dental history.
Where appropriate referrals to other dental specialists may be required.
Some of the most common TMJ symptoms include:
- Headaches earaches, and pain/pressure felt behind the eyes
- A clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth
- Pain from yawning, opening the mouth widely or chewing
- Jaws that “get stuck,” lock or go out
- A sudden change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Jaw muscles feeling tender
Once TMJ disorders are correctly diagnosed, appropriate treatment can be provided.
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