TMJ Disorder

TMJ disorder is a condition which affects the temporomandibular joint which is the joint that is located between lower jaw and the temporal bone which connects to the skull. Every person has two temporal joints on each side of the jaw. 

If the temporal joints are functioning properly a person will be able to eat and chew at ease however this is not the case if you suffer from TMJ as it affects the functioning of the jaw making it difficult to chew and bite.

 Many dentists recommend that patients who suffer various symptoms of TMJ disorder should report it at the earliest so that the relevant treatment can be performed. This hub is designed to give you more information regarding TMJ disorder so that you can identify symptoms and relevant treatment as outlined below.

There are various symptoms related to TMJ disorder such as experiencing pain while talking, yawning and eating. Some people may even experience pain when they are not using the jaw and the level of pain varies from an intense pain to a constant aching pain. Other symptoms include:

• Severe pain or discomfort around the neck and shoulders

• Muscle spasms – These may occur with an exhausted feeling in the joints

• Pain when using the joints for talking, eating and yawning

• Some people may experience ear pain or difficulty hearing and in severe cases even loss of hearing.

• People may experience ringing sounds in their ears

• Clicking and popping sounds may be heard when you move the joints and this could be an indication of TMJ

• Nausea – Many people report to feel nausea related to the other symptoms of TMJ

• Headache is a common symptom alongside other symptoms of TMJ

• Dizziness- Many people often feel dizzy when they suffer from TMJ disorder

• Some people may experience swelling of the face

• Trouble swallowing is another symptom that people may find they have as some people cannot even open their jaws properly to eat

If you do suffer any of the above symptoms along with pain in the temporal joints it would be best to consult a professional dentist who will be able to further advise you on the relevant treatment and whether or not you have TMJ disorder.

There are many ways a dentist can diagnose TMJ disorder. One way to examine whether a patient is suffering from TMJ disorder is to measure the amount and intensity of the pain when opening the using the jaw. The dentist can detect the intensity of the pain by performing the clench test and then creating an impression of your bite in order to confirm the diagnosis of TMJ disorder.

There is a wide range of treatment available to treat patients suffering from TMJ disorder as discussed below:

• Mouth guards- The dentist may decide to place a plastic mouth guard which will aid in acting like a shield to protect your upper and lower set of teeth.

• Orthodontic – Some cases of TMJ disorder can be treated with orthodontic dental treatments such as dental surgery

• Orthroscopy is a type of dental surgery used to treat TMJ disorder

• Occlusal equilibration is a treatment often used to treat TMJ disorder as it enables the jaw to close and function properly and involves reshaping the teeth

• Open surgery- This surgery can be used to remove defective obstacles obstructing the jaw and making it easier for a person to eat and move the jaw.

• First aid may be a treatment used by a dentist to remove intense pain and heat and cold compression treatments may be used by the dentist as part of the first aid.

After the treatment your dentist may be able to further advise you on how to care for your jaw and may also require you to perform joint exercises in order to maintain the functionality of the jaw.

There are many ways of finding a dentist specialising in TMJ disorder as outlined below:

1. You could visit the www.cosmeticdentistryguide.co.uk website as it enlists comprehensive information regarding TMJ and lists many dentists that offer services for TMJ sufferers.

2. The internet is a vast entity and it is no different when it comes to information about TMJ disorder or dentists who offer treatment for such a problem.

3. Try your local dentist and see if they offer services or if they know of any other good dentists in the area that do.