TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS
Determining the cause of a TMJ problem is important, because it is the cause that guides the treatment.
Arthritis is one cause of TMJ symptoms. It can result from an injury or from grinding the teeth at night. Another common cause involves displacement or dislocation of the disk that is located between the jawbone and the socket. A displaced disk may produce clicking or popping sounds, limit jaw movement and cause pain when opening and closing the mouth.
The disk can also develop a hole or perforation, which can produce a grating sound with joint movement. There are also conditions such as trauma or rheumatoid arthritis that can cause the parts of the TMJ to fuse, preventing jaw movement altogether.
The Joint, the teeth, posture and the Muscles can cause complex pain problems.
Stress may trigger pain in the jaw muscles that is very similar to that caused by TMJ problems. Affected patients frequently clench or grind their teeth at night causing painful spasms in the muscles and difficulty in moving the jaw. Patients may also experience a combination of muscle and joint problems. That is why diagnosing TMJ disorders can be complex and may require different diagnostic procedures.
We incorporate true multidisciplinary approaches to the treatment of complex pain problems. Temporomandibular disorders are frequently associated with sudden or gradual changes in the way teeth meet ( dental occlusion ).
Inability to chew, painful mastication, pain in teeth, changes in the way upper and lower teeth meet are commonly reported. Sudden changes are seen in cases associated with fractures in the temporomandibular joint condyle, body of the mandible, and in some cases with acute displacement of the TMJ disc. Spasms in the muscles of mastication are commonly associated with gradual changes in the dental occlusion.
In some cases, pre-existing bite problems can contribute to TMD problems, especially when associated with parafunctional habits such as clenching and grinding. Research does not support the role of dental occlusion problems ( malocclusion ) as the sole causative factor for TMD disorders. It's usually associated with other causative factors and plays a secondary role.
TMJ/TMD Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Facial Pain
- Jaw Pain
- Ear Pain Clicking/Popping in Jaw Joints
- Difficulty Chewing
- Limited Mouth Opening
- Uncomfortable bite
- Changing bite
- Tinnitus
- Muffled Ears
- Worn-down
- Teeth Clenching/Bruxing
- Neck Pain
- Dizziness