You might be suffering from TMJ dysfunction if you have had persistent pain in your jaws, feel like they are making audible sounds, or have difficulty moving them both upwards and downwards.
Most consider these symptoms minor, but they could indicate a potentially serious problem involving your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Scheduling an appointment to see the best dentist in Homer Glen is necessary to handle these problems properly and increase your welfare.
A faulty TMJ joint makes chew, talk, or yawn hard. Every TMD patient is affected by a problem in the TMJ joint or the muscles surrounding it. This medical disorder is often misdiagnosed.
We shall thoroughly explore TMJ dysfunction’s causes, symptoms, and treatment options to determine whether a dentist who manages this problem is needed.
What is TMJ dysfunction?
TMJ dysfunction is a group of disorders related to the jaw joint and the attached muscles and ligaments. These disorders can affect one’s jaw’s ability to function properly, giving rise to jaw aches and migraines and making simple activities such as speaking or chewing more difficult.
The term TMJ is often misused and makes it difficult to understand, while, in actual use, it refers to a joint. The best definition of the ailment is termed TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. It has different presentations, ranging from simple mild discomfort to chronic pain and locked joints. Therefore, it is vital to have correct diagnosis and treatment in time.
Symptoms
- The feeling of pain or tenderness in the jaw area.
- Discomfort in the temporomandibular joint area, either unilaterally or bilaterally.
- Pain in the face or ears.
- Pain when chewing or difficulty in chewing altogether.
- Closing the jaw joint makes it challenging to open or close your jaws.
- Headaches, neck pain, or even toothaches associated with jaw tension.
Causes of TMJ Disorder
There are multiple factors based on which bruxism occurs, i.e., TMJ Factors arise; these include:
- Teeth Grinding and Clenching: When someone is under stress, teeth grinding can occur. This overuses the jaw muscles, causing pain and spasms, and may even dislocate the cartilage.
- Jaw Injuries: The last cause includes trauma to the jaw region, as it harms the joint and even the muscles around it.
- Arthritis: The TMJ can be impacted by osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint disorders.
Treatments
TMJ dysfunction can be managed, so there are numerous therapies and treatment options available based on the severity of the condition. These include:
- Oral Appliances
An oral appliance that fits over the jaw greatly decreases the stress on the joint, and the dentist found it appropriate for you. These devices prevent your teeth from grinding and allow your jaws to unclench.
- Medications and Injections
Joint pain can be replaced by embracing pain and corticosteroids injected into the joints. Sometimes, Botox injections can also be used to reduce muscular strain.
- Surgical Interventions
Arthrocentesis, also known as joint aspiration, and TMJ arthroscopy are joint surgeries that address the joint with relatively less risk than open joint surgeries. For extreme cases, one of these operations may be prescribed instead of direct open joint surgeries.
TMJ disorder can alter a person’s life entirely and is not pleasant at all and might range from mild problems to chronic pain that may be unbearable.
Before things get worse and more difficult, it is always advisable for people around or those experiencing TMJ pain to reach out to a dentist and get medical advice. This will allow them to get rid of the pain once and for all, and by doing so, their quality of life will also improve.
