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By: by Amino Science
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, more than 10 million Americans suffer from some form of TMJ.
TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, the joint in front of your ears that connects each side of the lower jaw to the skull. We owe talking, chewing, and yawning to the function of the TMJ joint.
TMJ is also commonly used to refer to temporomandibular joint disorders, but the correct term is TMD. When someone references a temporomandibular disorder, he or she is usually referring to pain in the jaw and the muscles that control jaw movement. TMJ disorders may develop if there has been an injury or trauma to the joint or the muscles of the head and neck, or if arthritis has damaged the joint’s cartilage.
Those with certain pre-existing conditions may be at a higher risk of developing TMD, including those with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, a history of jaw clenching or teeth grinding, or some connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common symptoms of TMJ include:
An exact cause of TMD is unknown, but possible causes and risk factors include:
TMJ disorders may be diagnosed by a primary care physician or by a dentist. A physical exam is required to make a diagnosis. The health care provider will examine the jaw joint and jaw muscles to pinpoint any painful spots. He or she will test the patient’s range of motion in the jaw and will listen as the patient opens and closes the mouth. In some cases, the physician or dentist may order images to assist with or confirm a TMJ disorder diagnosis. These images may include X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs of the mouth and jaw.
Sometimes TMJ symptoms go away on their own after a few weeks without any kind of treatment. If there is no joint pain and no limitation to the jaw’s movement or ability to chew or talk, then treatment is usually not prescribed. However, even if the jaw is fully functional, jaw pain may be present and may be severe enough to require treatment. In those cases, physicians will recommend a treatment plan based on the severity of the facial pain and the disorder.
Sometimes TMJ pain relief may be achieved by making simple changes to diet or doing some at-home care. The TMJ Association recommends trying the following home treatments:
When home remedies don’t do the trick and pain is persistent and reducing the quality of life for the patient, then physician intervention may be necessary. Common physician-prescribed treatments include:
If your TMD is unresponsive to the above treatments, your dentist may recommend the following:
If medications and other non-surgical treatments don’t work, physicians may consider additional approaches to TMJ treatment. These may include surgical intervention or other procedures such as corticosteroid injections or various kinds of surgeries. It's important to note that this surgeries are irreversible, and warrant a second and third opinion.
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