TMJ Treatment, Causes, and Symptoms
TMJ, also known as Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, is some category of jawbone problems that often affects much more people than anticipated. According to experts more than ten million Americans suffer the TMJ condition and most of them do not have knowledge of this. The most fundamental TMJ characteristic is pain. This is followed by restrictive movement of the mandibular and some noises from TMJ when the jaws are in motion. Even though this condition is not dangerous it could cause detrimental effects on life quality. This is because the symptoms could become difficult to handle and even chronic.
TMJ can be analyzed as some symptom complex disorder instead of some single condition. The condition is thought to be founded from a number of factors. The factors are, however, not adequately understood. There are differences on the significance of the factors causing TMJ as well. TMJ has a number of treatment options even though there is absence of proof of effectiveness for any of the available treatments. To this date there has not been any universally accepted protocol of TMJ treatment. The common TMJ treatments include occlusal splints provision, pain medication, psychosocial interventions such as cognitive therapy on behavior, etc. Many sources concur that any treatment administered for TMJ should be reversible.
TMJ causes
Living with TMJ can be disturbing and often painful. The sooner a person is diagnosed, the better for them. Each patient has unique needs and the treatment expected will often be a bit different from what others get. The discomfort and pain should diminish with effective treatment. Many dentists believe that TMJ symptoms come from jaw muscle problems or problems with jaw joints themselves. An injury incurred by the neck and head muscles, joints, or jaw such as injury from whiplash or a heavy blow could cause TMJ. Some of the other pronounced causes entail:
- The clenching and grinding of teeth, which exerts more pressure on joints
- Disc or cushion movement between jaw joints socket and ball
- Arthritis found in the joints
- Stress which often causes tightened jaw and facial muscles or teeth clenching
TMJ symptoms
TMJ regularly causes acute discomfort and pain. The discomforting pain could occur temporarily or remain for a long time. Such pains can affect either side or one of the sides to your face. TMJ is a common problem both with men and women and the problem is often experienced by middle aged people who are aged twenty to forty years. The common symptoms may include:
- Tenderness or pain inside the face, shoulders, neck, and jaw joints and can extend to the region around the ears during chewing, speaking, or when the mouth is wide open
- Discomfort when you attempt to open the mouth wide
- Stuck jaws or locked jaws when the mouth is closed or when opened
- Grinding, popping, or clicking sounds from the joints of the jaw when opening or closing the mouth or when chewing. Such sounds may or may not be accompanied with pain.
- Feeling of tiredness in the face
- Chewing difficulty or an uncomfortable sudden bite or a feeling as though the lower and upper teeth are not quite fitting
- Swelling on either sides of the face
Some of the other symptoms include headaches, toothaches, dizziness, neck aches, earaches, ringing of the ears, pains in upper shoulder, hearing problems, etc.
