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Do I have TMJ?

TMJ, or Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition involving inflammation of the tissues and structure around the joint which connects the mandible to the temporal bone of the skull. The disorder, which can cause extreme discomfort, soreness and pain in the head and neck areas, and also the teeth and ear areas.

Unfortunately, a patient can get a wide variety of treatment prescriptions from asking different health care physicians. Because TMJ does not fall under once specific type of physician’s specialty, dentists, neurologists and even psychologists all offer differing approaches to TMJ treatment.

Because TMJ involves not only bone joints but muscular tissue as well, a multitude of symptoms can be attributed to TMJ. Among the most widely experienced are symptoms in muscles, nerves, ligaments, bones, connective tissue, the ears and teeth. Headaches, muscle pain, jaw popping or cracking (or even locking), tooth mobility (movement), tooth sensitivity, damaged dental work, ringing of the ears and tooth loss are all symptoms of TMJ.

The temporomandibular joint itself, an extremely complex set of joints in the human body, and its position and development, is related with the rest of the body as well. If you have comprised orthopedic conditions such as spine malalignment or bad posture (caused from wearing high heels, carrying a heavy purse on one side for women or even Kung Fu for men!), the TMJ can often become constrained and surrounding tissues of the head and neck region which ascends to the TMJ can become sore; people who suffer from TMJ often feel their jaws clicking or popping as a result. Because the joint is so close to the ear, TMJ can cause ear pain and be confused with an ear-related issue.

Factors which can contribute to TMJ include jaw trauma (such as being in an accident or being punched), tongue thrusting (which can occur subconsciously during speech and swallowing) which will put the head at a more forward unbalanced position (which is also a phenomenon involving multiple factors, from airway obstruction to allergies to anatomical anomalies etc…), excessive nail biting or gum chewing (or any excessively repetitive activity involving jaw movement), and night grinding. Treatment of TMJ would of course require consultation with your dental professional and maybe chiropractor.

A common treatment of TMJ, if in an acute stage is ice compression, and muscle relaxants. The use of an oral appliance to control jaw movement and tension is also possible treatment. Other treatments can be looked into when the cause of the problem has been found; Symptoms can be relieved with medication, injection, massage, infrared or low level laser therapy treatment (or by using other energies to treat the affected site or meridian points).

Using a TMJ splint, which is commonly a custom acrylic appliance, fits over your upper teeth and directs your lower jaw to rest in a more favorable position allowing your system to recover to a healthier condition. A more permanent solution would be orthodontical or restorative repositioning of the jaw, to create a more balanced orthopedic and facialmuscular harmony. Not only can a night guard protect against potential damage to your Temporomandibular joint, but can also promote a healthy faciomuscular system, in addition to protecting your teeth against possible bruxism (grinding) damage.

Consult with your dental professional to find the best TMJ solution for you, or to find out if symptoms you are experiencing may be attributed to TMJ disorder!