Suppose you experience ongoing pain near your ear, jaw, or facial muscles, possibly accompanied by a clicking or popping sound or restricted jaw movement. In that case, you may be suffering from TMJ TMD treatment — an abbreviation for Temporomandibular disorders.
Sometimes, people incorrectly use the term TMJ to refer to these problems when, in fact, TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint — or jaw joint — itself. So, while you have a TMJ (two of them, in fact), you may or may not have TMD.
TMD describes a group of conditions characterized by pain and dysfunction of the TMJ and/or the muscles surrounding it.
It’s not always easy to figure out precisely what’s causing these symptoms, but the good news is that most TMD cases resolve themselves with the help of conservative remedies you can try at home.
It’s important to exhaust all such reversible remedies before moving on to anything irreversible, such as bridgework or surgery.
The two TMJs that connect your lower jaw, the mandible, to the temporal bone of the skull on either side are very complex joints that allow movement in three dimensions.
The lower jaw and temporal bone fit together as a ball and socket, with a cushioning disk in between. Large pairs of muscles in the cheeks and temples move the lower jaw. Any of these parts — the disk, the muscles or the joint itself — can become the source of a TMJ TMD treatment.
If you are in pain or have difficulty opening or closing your jaw, a thorough examination can help pinpoint the problem area; then an appropriate remedy can be recommended.
Causes of TMJ TMD treatment
As with any other joint, the TMJ can be subject to orthopedic problems, including inflammation, sore muscles, strained tendons and ligaments, and disk problems.
TMD is also influenced by genes, gender (women appear more prone to it), and age. Physical and psychological stress can also be a factor. In some cases, jaw pain may be related to a more widespread, pain-inducing medical condition such as fibromyalgia (“fibro” – connective tissues; “myo” – muscle; “algia” – pain).
Signs and Symptoms of TMD
Clicking Sounds — Some people with TMJ TMD treatment hear a clicking, popping, or grating sound coming from the TMJ when opening or closing the mouth. This is usually caused by a shifting of the disk inside the joint. Someone standing next to you might even be able to hear it.
Clicking alone is not a significant symptom because one-third of all people have jaw joints that click, studies show. However, if the clicking is accompanied by pain or limited jaw function—the jaw getting “stuck” in an open or closed position, for example—this would indicate TMJ TMD treatment.
Muscle Pain:
This can be felt in the cheeks (masseter muscles) and temples (temporalis muscles), where the two big pairs of jaw-closing muscles are located.
Feeling sore and stiff upon waking up in the morning is often related to habits such as clenching and/or grinding the teeth at night. If you have this type of nocturnal habit, a custom-made nightguard should be very helpful in decreasing the force applied to your teeth. This will, in turn, allow your muscles to relax and relieve pressure on your jaw joints.
Other self-care remedies are discussed below (please see Relieving the Pain).
Joint Pain
Pain that’s coming from one or both jaw joints technically would be described as arthritis (“arth” – joint; “itis” – inflammation) of the TMJ.
Radiographs (x-ray pictures) show that some people have arthritic-looking TMJs but no symptoms of pain or dysfunction; others have significant symptoms of pain and dysfunction, but their joints look normal on radiographs. There is no cure for arthritis anywhere in the body, but medication can sometimes help relieve arthritic symptoms.
Relieving the Pain
Once you have been examined, a strategy for treating your condition and managing your pain can be developed. Sometimes, a temporary change to a softer diet can reduce stress on the muscles and joints. Ice and/or moist heat can help relieve soreness and inflammation.
Gentle stretching exercises can also help muscles in spasms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants can also provide relief.
Other Treatment Options
Severe TMJ TMD cases may require more complex forms of treatment, including orthodontics, dental restorations like bridgework, or minor procedures inside the joint, such as cortisone injections or lavage (flushing).
It’s rare for major surgery ever to be necessary in a case of TMD. Again, it’s essential to try the wide range of conservative, reversible treatments available and give them enough time to work as they almost always prove effective. The first step is an examination at the dental office. To learn more about available treatment options, view this Chart on TMD Therapy.
