The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is one of the most important and sensitive joints in the human body. The TMJ connects the jaw and temporal bones of your skull. You can feel it moving if you put your fingers on the jaw in front of your ears. It helps to move the jaw sideways and up and down.
TMJ is a sensitive joint that can sustain damage due to any injury or disease. The damages will lead to pain in the joint and surrounding areas. The pain and stiffness in the joint are known as TMJ syndrome.
The causes of TMJ disorder may result from excessive nail biting, gum chewing, degenerative joint diseases, trauma/injury to the mouth, poor posture, stress, teeth grinding or rheumatoid arthritis.
TMJ disorder is a common problem that occurs mostly between the ages of 20 to 40; women are 4 times more prone to this syndrome.
There are a lot of symptoms of TMJ disorder from stiffness, headaches, dizziness, ear ache, clicking sounds when eating and talking, difficulty in chewing, popping sound in the ear, sore jaw muscles, or pain in the temple, neck or shoulder.
While TMJ is quite easy to treat through home remedies, people need to seek professional medical treatments if home remedies are ineffective. In extreme cases a joint replacement surgery might be the solution of TMJ disorder.
Home remedies can treat normal cases of TMJ easily, the home remedies include,
Applying cold packs or heat pack to the affected joint
Relaxation techniques such as massage can also release stress
Eating soft foods will prevent further stress build up
Aroma therapy or massage of some essential oils like lavender can also relax muscles and provide pain relief
Medical treatments for TMJ include physiotherapy, splint therapy, pain relieving medication, and arthroscopy. In rare cases, joint replacement surgery may be the treatment of choice.
A splint is a mouth guard or a bite guard that one wears over teeth to prevent grinding, clenching of the jaw and other movements that can set off TMJ. The splint can be soft or hard after we customize it for the patient's needs.
When the patient wears the splint, it relaxes the muscles in the mouth and also prevents teeth from other side effects of grinding. The splint supports the bite in the most favorable position to release tension in the jaw.
In severe cases of TMJ, surgery might be necessary. There are two types of surgeries:
TMJ arthroscopy is a minor invasive surgery that can take place in a dental clinic. The recovery time is only one week.
Sometimes a total joint replacement is necessary as the last resort for treating TMJ syndrome. An oral surgeon will carry out this surgery that may require four to six weeks to heal.
Request a TMJ dental appointment here: https://www.cosmeticdentistoffice.com or call Rachel Cole DDS PC at (503) 248-1114 for an appointment in our Portland dental office.
When your mouth has been worn down due to years of wear and tear, dental restoration can help you get your smile back and improve your oral health. Even if we do not think about it, we rely on our teeth, tongue, gums, jaw, and throat for more than we realize, and keeping all these…
Are you thinking about getting invisible braces? Also known as clear aligners, many people are choosing this type of braces to straighten their teeth. The fact that there are many choices for straightening one’s teeth nowadays means that those living with crooked teeth have choices.It is now simply a matter of choosing which of the…
Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on studying, diagnosing, and treating issues that affect the gums and the bone structures that support teeth. Periodontal disease is the leading dental problem that periodontics focuses on.Periodontal disease is an infection of gum tissues caused by the bacteria in plaque and tartar getting below the gum…
As you will discover, there are many differences between an endodontist and a general dentist. Seeing the right dental professional is the first step to taking good care of your teeth. Keep in mind that some general dentists perform the same procedures as an endodontist. However, not all do.The easiest way to think of an…
When your mouth has been worn down due to years of wear and tear, dental restoration can help you get your smile back and improve your oral health. Even if we do not think about it, we rely on our teeth, tongue, gums, jaw, and throat for more than we realize, and keeping all these…
Are you thinking about getting invisible braces? Also known as clear aligners, many people are choosing this type of braces to straighten their teeth. The fact that there are many choices for straightening one’s teeth nowadays means that those living with crooked teeth have choices.It is now simply a matter of choosing which of the…