Post on 03-Jun-2015
description
Symptoms and Treatment
Temporomandibular Joint
and Muscle Disorders(TMJ)
Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders,
often called TMJ, is quite simply pain in your jaw.
It's much more than that, however.
A poorly understood disorder, many misinterpret TMJ as
simple jaw pain.
Further, it's difficult to determine what the actual cause is,
and in many people it is unknown even after treatment.
Regardless of cause, TMJ can cause severe pain and
discomfort in sufferers, and treatment is always advised.
What is TMJ?
In layman's terms, TMJ is pain in the joints and muscles surrounding the jaw. If you open your mouth and feel a tightness or pain, it could potentially be TMJ.
“For sufferers, every meal becomes an ordeal as chewing is quite difficult.”
TMJ is essentially caused by physical stress on the various components of the mouth.
Symptoms of TMJ
Chewing and biting difficulty – a surefire indication.
Clicking and popping sounds of the jaw
Dull aching pain when at rest
Locking of the jaw
“If you have any of these
symptoms, you should see your
dentist.”
Difficulty opening the mouth
Headaches
Earaches in some cases
“If you have any of these
symptoms, you should see your
dentist.”
Examinations for TMJ
Different doctors will have different methods, but it will most likely begin with a:
Dental exam
Bite test
X-ray examination
“In addition to seeing your dentist, you may
need to see a specialist if you think
you have TMJ.”
Causes of TMJ
Unfortunately, the causes of TMJ are currently unknown in many patients.
Often, it is suspected that the causes are any of the following:
Muscle tension by the client Stress
Lack of sleep
Poor diet
Grinding of the teeth
Poor posture
Improper orthodontics earlier in life
Treatments
• TMJ treatment is progressive. Most of the time, treatment will begin
with physical manipulations and gentle massage.
• Learning how to stretch your jaw properly, and resting it whenever
possible is advised.
• Like any muscle pain, heat and ice may be recommended by your
dentist.
• Muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories may also be prescribed,
depending on the severity of the case.
• Mouth guards are common in cases where the patient is grinding
their teeth, as a way to learn to relax the jaw when at rest.
These are short-term solutions, as once the stress on the
jaw is removed the TMJ gradually disappears.
“Note that severe treatments like surgery are rarely used for TMJ, as they do not address the root causes of
the disorder.”
Seek Treatment Immediately
The takeaway message for TMJ is that it is
an easily treatable physical stress
disorder.
Many do not seek treatment as they fear there will be
invasive techniques or surgery involved, but that is NOT the
case.
In the hands of an expert dentist, the pain caused by TMJ
can be easily relieved so you can rest easy and reduce
your stress levels.
TMJ is painful and can affect MANY
areas of your life.
The dentists at Shumway Dental Care, located in
Chandler AZ, are experienced and caring.
They know the best and most up-to-date
techniques in dental care, including TMJ pain
relief treatment.