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| TemporoMandibular Joint (TMJ) Therapy |
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| What is TMJ? |
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| TMJ is the Temporomandibular Joint or the jaw joint. These joints are located in front of each ear, which connects the lower jaw bone to your skull. These joints allow you to bite, chew, and swallow food, speak and make facial expressions by moving up and down, side to side, and forward and back. |
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| What are TMJ Diseases/Disorders? |
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| TMJ are characterized by limitations in your jaw movements, and pain in your jaw and surrounding tissues. Injury and conditions that can affect the joints in your body (such as Arthritis) also affect your TMJ. |
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| What Causes TMJ? |
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| Some possible causes are injuries to your jaw area, dental procedures, forms of Arthritis, hormones, genetics, auto-immune diseases, low-level infections, stretching the jaw while inserting a breathing tube before surgery, and grinding and clenching your teeth. |
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| How Do I Know I have TMJ? |
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| The types of symptoms associated with TMJ can be associated to other conditions, such as sinus or ear infections, headaches, abscessed or decayed teeth, and nerve-related facial pain. Pain is the most common symptom. TMJ pain is usually described as a dull aching pain in your jaw joint and surrounding areas, including your ear. Some people have no pain, but still have difficulty using their jaws. Other symptoms can include: |
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You cannot open your mouth comfortably |
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There is a popping or clicking sound in the jaw joint |
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The jaw will lock when you attempt to pen your mouth |
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Headaches |
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An uncomfortable bite |
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Shoulder, neck or back pain |
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Facial swelling |
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Ears ringing or pain in the ears |
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Hearing decreases |
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Vision problems and dizziness |
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| Presently, there is not a standard test to identify TMJ conditions. However, in most cases, a complete evaluation, including your symptoms, a detailed medical history, a physical examination of your head, face, neck, and jaw all provide useful information to make a diagnosis. |
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| How is TMJ Treated? |
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| Some TMJ issues can improve on their own with just some simple home therapy. However, for some individuals, symptoms can worsen over time. Most people with TMJ conditions have mild symptoms. Simple home therapy can include: |
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Eating soft foods |
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The application of ice or moist heat |
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Avoiding jaw movements that are extreme (like yawning wide, singing loud, and chew ing gum) |
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| In treating TMJ there are reversible and irreversible treatments. It is recommended that reversible treatments should be used whenever possible when treating TMJ conditions. Meaning, that the treatment will not create permanent changes to teeth or the jaw. |
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| Reversible Treatments: |
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Over the Counter pain medications |
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Prescribed medications |
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Exercises you can do at home such as gentle jaw stretching and relaxation exercises |
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A biteplate or night guard – avoid using over the counter mouthguards because if a guard is not fitted properly, your teeth may shift and aggravate the condition |
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| Reversible treatments may not correct severe pain and dysfunction of the jaw that may TMJ patients experience. In these cases Irreversible Treatments may be recommended. |
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| Irreversible Treatments: |
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Grinding your teeth to adjust your bite |
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Mandibular repositioning splints which realign your jaw, muscles and ligaments |
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Crown or Bridge work to balance your bite |
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Orthodontics |
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Replacing your jaw joints or discs with TMJ implants |
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