TMJ

TMJ Q & A

What is TMJ?

The medical condition TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) involves problems with your temporomandibular joint. TMJ disorders are a family of problems related to your jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a “clicking” sound, you’ll be glad to know that these problems are more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles do not work together correctly.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.

What causes TMJD?

TMJ might be associated with jawbone or muscle complications due to various factors, such as:

• Accident, trauma, or injury to your jaw, or neck (whiplash)
• Inflammation from certain medical conditions
• Stress, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding
• Arthritis

Some of the more serious complications of TMJ include bone damage, face changes, locked jaw, scar tissue, and difficulty chewing. Jaw popping and clicking happen when the meniscus gets shifted out of position leading to compression on the nerves and wear on the bone. 

What are the symptoms of TMJ?

The main symptoms of TMJ include moderate to severe pain, discomfort, and soreness in the jaw hinge joint and the surrounding area.

You might have other TMJ symptoms, such as:

• Clicking, grating, and popping sounds coming from your jaw joint when you move it
• Toothache
• Pain and tenderness in the hinge joint spreading to the ears, neck, and shoulders
• Issues when you attempt to open your mouth wide
• Locked jaw
• Earaches, headaches, and dizziness
• Facial swelling
• Difficulty chewing

 You might also have hearing difficulty or hear ringing noises in your ears (tinnitus).

How is TMJ treated?

Cosmo Dental offers effective treatments for TMJ, depending on the cause and severity. Treatment is aimed at the mechanical cause of the problem, just like it would for a knee problem.  

In some cases, our TMJ specialist might offer medications, such as anti-inflammatories, nerve medications and muscle relaxants. Jaw exercises are also helpful. 

Cosmo Dental team also provides referrals to physical therapy, massage therapy, osteopathic, and chiropractic providers. 

Our TMJ Specialist might recommend an oral appliance or orthotic to realign the mandible, take the pressure off of the bones and nerves, and improve the disk position. This is very different from a nightguard. Nightguards can actually worsen TMJ symptoms at times. 

Our TMJ Specialist has been extensively trained in the use of therapeutic injections including steroids, Botox, prolotherapy, trigger point injections and IMS.

Our TMJ specialist is also experienced in manual therapies such as jaw manipulation and Spray-and-stretch. 

TMJ arthrocentesis and TMJ arthroscopy are minimally invasive TMJ surgeries provided in the office.

What about bite correction or surgery?

If your TMJ disorder has caused problems with how your teeth fit together you may need treatment such as bite adjustment (equilibration), orthodontics with or without jaw reconstruction, or restorative dental work. Surgical options, such as arthroscopy and open joint repair restructuring, are sometimes needed, but are reserved for severe cases. Our doctor’s do not consider TMJ surgery unless the jaw can’t open, is dislocated and non-reducible, has severe degeneration, or the patient has undergone appliance treatment unsuccessfully.

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KNOW MORE ABOUT TMJD Treatment:

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If you’re tired of hurting and these symptoms are affecting your quality of life, call our office today.

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