Temporomandibular Disorder
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is caused by the jaw, facial muscle, and joint problems. The upper and lower jaw forms a joint responsible for chewing is known as the Temporo Mandibular joint (TMJ).
Temporomandibular dysfunction usually causes severe pain & discomfort. It might be temporary or may last for many years. It affects one or both sides of your face commonly seen in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
When you are experiencing migraines or a headache, it feels like a huge pressure gripping in head and neck. You may suffer this excruciating pain for several days a week or a few times a year.
There are many aspects to a migraine and headache involving your muscles. Muscles surrounding your head, face and neck play an important role and are interconnected with several facial joints. If any dysfunction occurs in jaw joints you may suffer from an extensive pain or cramps in the neck, and jaw because of muscles malfunction. This results in intense pressure and tension. That pain may cause your other senses to go imbalance and becomes unbearable. The pain can even make you physically sick.
At Denta Care Dental Clinic, your routine check-up and treatment helps to reduce and eliminate the causes of migraines and headaches. We have some of our happy patients which are now headache free after a long period of suffering and it’s been nice feeling relieving them from this pain.
What causes TMD?
- The difficulty with the jaw muscles or the parts associated with the joint itself.
- Injury to the jaw, joint, or the muscles of your head and neck
- Grinding or clenching your teeth
- Arthritis in the joint
- Stress may cause tightening of facial and jaw muscles.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain and tenderness in face, jaw, neck, shoulder and around ear
- Unable to chew, speak or open mouth wider
- Jaw may stuck or lock at open or close mouth positions
- Grinding or clicking sounds at the movement of jaw
- Sudden uncomfortable bite because of jaws not fitted properly
- Swelling on the sides of face
- You may Experience toothache, headache, earache, dizziness, hearing problem, ringing in ear etc.
Treatment Options
Home Remedies
- You can relieve TMD symptoms at home along with the instructions given by your Dentist.
- Medicines prescribed by your dentist
- Apply an ice pack on to the side of your face and the jaw for about 10 minutes.
- Do a few simple jaw stretches followed by holding a warm towel or washcloth to the side of your face for about 5 minutes for few times each day.
- Eat soft foods and add yogurt, mashed potatoes, eggs, fish, cooked fruits and vegetables, and bean in your diet.
- Prepare your food as soft as you can chew it less and avoid hard food.
- Avoid excessive jaw movements.
- Keep yawning and chewing
- Don’t rest your chin on anything while sleeping or sitting
- Avoid holding your phone between your shoulder and ear
- Try to sit in a good posture which helps in reducing neck and facial pain.
- Keep your teeth separated as often as you can
- Ask your dentist about jaw relaxation techniques and stress reduction therapy
Traditional Treatment Options
- Medications prescribed by your dentist to relieve pain and swelling.
- Use Splints and night guard which fit over your upper and lower teeth which avoid teeth contact and keeps your teeth in position.
- Your dentist will replace missing teeth and use crowns, bridges, or dental braces to correct a bite problem.
Other Treatment Options
If the mentioned treatment won’t help, some of the treatment your dentist do are:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Ultrasound helps to relieve soreness or improve mobility.
- Trigger-point injections
- Radio wave therapy increases blood flow and eases the pain.
- Low-level laser therapy helps you to move your neck and open your mouth wider more comfortable
Surgery for TMD
If any of the treatment won’t help, surgery will be an option to correct TMD.
There are three types of surgery depending on the problem.
Arthrocentesis : This is done if there is no major history of TMJ but the jaws are locked.
Arthroscopy : This is a minimally invasive treatment which leaves a smaller scar with complications, and need a shorter recovery time as compare to a major operation.
Open-joint surgery : You may need this type of surgery if- Wearing down of the bone structure in the jaw Tumors in or around the joint Your joint with full of bone chips