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We all have two TMJ’s (temporomandibular joints,) but some of us suffer from a disorder or dysfunction of one or both of these joints, also known as TMD. The temporomandibular joint, responsible for connecting your skull to your jawbone, acts as a sliding hinge allowing you to open and close your mouth. TMD disorders lead to extreme pain and discomfort in the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles that control the movement of the joint.
Westlake Dental Associates has been helping patients with temporomandibular joint disorders with jaw aches and pains, joint clicking, and other symptoms of TMD.
What Causes TMD?
The exact cause of temporomandibular joint disorders is difficult to diagnose as there may be multiple contributing factors. Common causes of TMD include:
- Arthritis of the temporomandibular joint
- Extreme clenching or grinding teeth (bruxism)
- Disc dislocation between the ball and socket joint
- Trauma
- An overbite or underbite
- Stress
- Genetics
Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
TMD produces several symptoms that make it uncomfortable or increasingly difficult for a person to do mundane tasks like opening and closing their mouth or chewing food. Symptoms include:
- Tenderness and pain in the jaw
- Aching pain in the temporomandibular joint(s)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Headache
- Earache
- Difficulty chewing
- A grating or clicking noise when chewing
Symptoms of TMD are often relieved with non-surgical treatment or at-home care; however, some people benefit from surgery to correct the disorder.
How is TMD Treated?
Temporomandibular joint disorders are diagnosed by your primary provider or dental care professionals. TMD is most often diagnosed during routine dental appointments where your dentist can observe and evaluate the range of motion of your jaw, feel for tenderness, and physically examine the jaw joints as you open and close your mouth. On occasion, an x-ray or MRI may be ordered to assess the extent of damage to the joint.
TMD is a condition that is often treated at home through:
- Ice and heat application. For acute pain, ice the area for 10 minutes. Your health provider will instruct you to do specialized exercises to keep the temporomandibular joint active. After completing the exercises, apply heat for 5 minutes. Repeat this a few times throughout the day for optimal results.
- Avoid hard or crunchy foods. Eating soft foods like mashed potatoes, fish, and yogurt keeps the joint from working overtime.
- OTC medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin may be used to reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort.
If at-home treatment does not yield results, your health provider may recommend:
- TENS therapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a type of therapy that can be done at home or in-office. Using low-level electrical currents in a targeted area, pain is reduced as the electrical currents relax the muscles and temporomandibular joint.
- Injections. Trigger point injections use numbing medications or pain medication injected into an affected area to reduce or eliminate pain.
- Surgery. When all other options are tried and unsuccessful in eliminating symptoms, surgery is recommended.
Treating TMD at Westlake Dental Associates
At Westlake Dental Associates, our team provides comprehensive dental care for the entire family with an array of amenities like same-day crown services, advanced 3D implant technology, teeth whitening, and TMJ treatment. Protecting your teeth is our top priority; if you are experiencing pain or have concerns, please call our office today to schedule a free consultation.
