The temporomandibular joint is a synovial hinge that connects the jaw to the skull. Temporomandibular joint disorders are a group of conditions that cause pain and discomfort in the joints and muscles that control jaw movement. These conditions can be caused by arthritis, trauma to the jaw, jaw alignment issues, and teeth grinding, among other things.

You may be suffering from a temporomandibular joint disorder if you experience symptoms like severe jaw pain, trouble chewing, toothaches, and migraines. However, you will need an assessment from your dentist to determine whether your symptoms are associated with TMJ disorders.

After a diagnosis, your dentist will recommend the appropriate treatment procedures, which vary depending on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Some of the treatments for TMJ are invasive and could impact your oral health. Therefore, if you experience the symptoms of TMD, you must seek our expert services at Tayani Dental Group. We serve clients seeking expert dental care in Fullerton, CA.

An Overview of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

The temporomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to the skull. These joints slide and rotate in front of the ear, consisting of a temporal and mandible bone. TMJs are some of the most complex joints in the body, and they allow your mouth to open and close correctly when yawning, speaking, or chewing.

TMDs are disorders of the temporomandibular joint characterized by severe facial pain. Any condition that prevents the muscles or bones of the temporomandibular joint from working correctly is classified as a TMJ disorder. There are several types of TMD, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, including:

  • Myofascial pain is the most common type of TMD. It results in pain and discomfort in the connective tissues covering the facial muscles and the muscles controlling neck and shoulder movement.
  • Degenerative joint disease. This type of TMJ is caused by rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis of the jaw. Arthritis is the natural wear and tear of the joints and can cause severe pain.
  • Internal joints degenerate. This is a condition where the jaw or disc is dislocated. The cushion cartilage between your head and jaw is damaged in this case. Internal joint degeneration will cause a strain on your jaw.

Causes of TMJ Disorders

There is no single cause of TMJ. Instead, the condition may be the result of a combination of different factors, including:

Jaw Injury

A common cause of TMD is jaw injury. Your jaw could be injured as a result of trauma. This could occur when you suffer an accident or are hit during contact sports. If your jaw injury causes it to break, you will need immediate care to avoid causing further damage. Delayed or intensive treatment can result in temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Teeth Clenching and Grinding

Teeth grinding is an unconscious habit that often occurs during sleep. In addition to damaging tooth enamel, teeth grinding can create pressure on the jaw, causing it to break and dislocate. A dislocated jaw causes pain and discomfort, impacting one's ability to chew or open one's mouth.

Jaw Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that damages the joints. Although some joints will wear down naturally with age, other factors like injury can cause the condition. Arthritis affects different joints, including the jaw. When it involves the jaw, arthritis can cause inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Individuals with arthritis often develop temporomandibular joint disorders.

Malocclusion

Malocclusion, commonly known as bad bites, is a common dental condition among Americans. When you have malocclusion, your lower and upper teeth do not align when you bite or close your mouth. This condition can strain your jaws and cause TMJ.

Stress

Stress impacts multiple aspects of your body and could be directly related to temporomandibular joint disorder. This is because stress can cause you to grind your teeth while you sleep, which causes trauma to your jaw.

While you cannot control some of the factors that cause TMJ, you can learn habits that worsen the condition. They include:

  • Using your teeth as tools. You could be tempted to use your teeth to open a can or tear tags off your clothes. This habit will damage your teeth and strain your jaw, causing pain and discomfort.
  • Poor posture. Poor posture when sleeping or working can strain the muscles of your shoulders, neck, and face, damaging the jawbones and TMJ.
  • Chewing ice. People chew ice to relieve stress and sometimes to cool off their bodies. Unfortunately, chewing ice exerts pressure on your jaw, which can cause dislocation, pain, and inflammation.
  • Biting complex and large chunks of food. Taking big bites of food can overwork your jaw and increase your risk of developing TMD.

Symptoms of TMD

If you experience the following symptoms of TMD, you must consult with your dentist immediately for further assessment and treatment:

  • Jaw discomfort and pain. Jaw pain may be an aching pain around the ears or stiffness of the jaw joint.
  • Severe headaches. TMJ disorders often cause a strain on your facial muscles, which can result in severe headaches that do not go away after taking pain relievers.
  • Tooth sensitivity without an underlying oral health complication. If you experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods and do not have an underlying oral health condition, you may have TMD.
  • Pain radiates to your face, neck, and behind the ears. Temporomandibular joint disorders arise due to straining or injury to the jaw. Therefore, you may experience pain that radiates along the neck, shoulders, and ears.
  • Jaw popping or clicking. If you feel a popping sound from your jaw when you open your mouth, you may need a further assessment to check for TMD.
  • Locked jaw. A locked jaw is when you have difficulty opening your mouth or feel muscle tightness around the jaw.
  • If you experience a change in bite and do not have the problem, you may suffer from a temporomandibular joint disorder.

Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Joint Conditions

The dentist will examine you physically if you visit them with TMJ problems. This is accomplished by looking at your jaw's range of motion and pinpointing the areas that hurt or are uncomfortable. If the dentist feels there may be an issue, they can do further examinations, such as:

  • X-Ray. Dental X-rays take pictures of your mouth using electromagnetic radiation. The radiation beams image your teeth and bones by penetrating soft layers. A dental X-ray can provide an inside picture of the jaws, which cannot be seen during regular examinations.
  • CT scan. Your dentist can diagnose TMD using a CT scan. Unlike an X-ray, CT scans are more precise in indicating jaw joint abnormalities. Diagnostic imaging will allow your dentist to assess the temporomandibular joint's bones, muscles, and bones. Imaging also helps determine the effectiveness of ongoing treatment.
  • TMJ arthroscopy is a keyhole surgery used to diagnose TMJ. Your surgeon could use this procedure to diagnose problems like torn cartilage and damage to the joint surface. They may be able to treat some problems using surgical instruments or by washing out the joint (arthrocentesis) without making a more significant cut. This procedure aims to confirm the exact problem and sometimes treat it right away.
  • An MRI is one of the best diagnostic methods for temporomandibular joint problems. This exam assesses the TMJ disc's degenerative alterations, mobility, and placement.

Treatment for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

After assessing your symptoms, your dentist could recommend various treatment alternatives for your TMD. The appropriate treatment for your condition will vary depending on the following factors:

  • Your age. Sometimes, age is a contributing factor to TMJ disorders. This can occur in cases where your condition results from arthritis or age-related injuries. A treatment for a young person may not be effective for their older counterparts.
  • Your medical history. Sometimes, the medications used for the treatment of TMJ may cause allergic reactions or fail to interact appropriately with other medicines you may be taking. Therefore, your dentist will review your medical history before suggesting a treatment option.
  • Duration within which the condition is expected to last. Some cases of TMD are temporary. This could be the case if your condition is a result of trauma to the jaw. In this case, your dentist can recommend mild treatments like medication.
  • Your reference. Your dentist will discuss your symptoms of TMD with you after an assessment. After being informed of the treatments, their side effects, and their effectiveness, you can choose the one you want.

The treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders include:

Medication

When your symptoms of TMD are mild, you can relieve the pain and discomfort using the following medications:

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers. If over-the-counter medications fail to relieve your pain, your dentist can prescribe stronger pain relievers. Additionally, anti-inflammatory medicines may be used to reduce jaw swelling.
  • While medications like amitriptyline are often used for stress, in lower doses, they can reduce the pain and discomfort associated with TMD.
  • Muscle relaxants. TMJ disorders are characterized by pain and muscle stiffness. Therefore, muscle relaxants can help relieve the pain caused by muscle spasms.

Non-surgical Treatments

Your dentist can recommend the following treatment options if you do not want to undergo surgery:

  • You may need a mouthguard to prevent tooth grinding. Additionally, the mouthguard can protect your jaws and teeth when playing contact sports.
  • This is a common non-surgical option for relieving the symptoms of TMD. The physical therapist will guide you through exercises that stretch your jaw and relieve tension. Physical therapy may be used as a supplement to medication.
  • Trigger point injections. This treatment option involves dry needling or injecting corticosteroids into the painful and stiff parts of the jaw.
  • Ultrasound therapy. With this treatment, sound waves are used to deliver heat into the tissues of your jaw. This increases the blood flow to the problematic jaw and promotes healing.
  • Behavioral changes. Your dentist can recommend some behavioral changes to ease the symptoms of TMD and reduce the recurrence of the condition. This includes improving your posture and avoiding teeth-grinding triggers.

Surgery

When medication and alternative treatment are ineffective for your temporomandibular joint disorders, you may need surgery. Common surgical procedures for this condition include:

Arthrocentesis

Fluid buildup on the temporomandibular joint exerts pressure on the jaw and causes inflammation. Arthrocentesis is a procedure used to remove excessive fluid from a hint. In addition to removing the fluid, medication can be injected into the joint, which relieves your pain and discomfort.

This procedure may be a good option for you when your temporomandibular joint disorder is caused by arthritis.

TMJ Arthroscopy

An arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to examine your temporomandibular joint for signs of abnormality or injury. An orthodontist inserts a camera through a small cut in your skin to diagnose issues like torn cartilage or damage to the joint surface. Your dentist can also clean the temporomandibular to treat pain and decompress the joint.

Open Joint Surgery

Your dentist may recommend open joint surgery if conservative measures fail to ease your temporomandibular joint pain. This helps in jaw repair or replacement. Open joint surgery is more intrusive and has a higher risk of complications. Before this procedure, you must discuss the pros and cons with your dentist.

Modified Condolylotomy

Condylectomy is an extra-articular procedure to ease the pain and inflammation caused by temporomandibular joint disorders. This procedure aims to increase the joint's space, allowing the condyle to move freely. Condylotomy helps relieve pain and jaw locking.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies for TMJ

Often, the symptoms of TMJ may be worsened by your daily habits, which include grinding your teeth and using your teeth as tools. The following lifestyle tips to help reduce the impact of TMJ:

  • Avoid overusing your jaw muscles. Eating soft foods can reduce the pain and discomfort associated with TMD. Additionally, you should avoid using your teeth to open bottles and product packages.
  • Hot or cold compresses. Applying cold or hot compresses to the affected jaw could help ease the pain caused by TMD.
  • Massage and stretch. Your dentist may recommend jaw exercises that help stretch and strengthen your jaw muscles. Additionally, they can show you how to massage your jaw and ease the tension.

Frequently Asked Questions on TMD

If you experience the symptoms of TMD, you may need clarification on the method of treatment and recovery journey to expect. Additionally, you may have questions on ways to prevent the recurrence of the condition. The following are frequently asked questions on temporomandibular joint disorders:

What can I expect if I have TMJ dysfunction?

According to the National Institute of Health, TMJ is a common condition that affects up to 4.6% of the population. However, the condition affects people differently. For some patients, TMD is a temporary issue that goes away with pain medications. For others, it may be a recurring problem needing extensive treatment, like surgery.

If you experience symptoms like headache, jaw pain, and facial pain, you must consult your dentist for further assessment. If you are diagnosed with a TMJ disorder, the dentist will recommend appropriate treatment.

Can I prevent TMJ?

Some causes of TMD, like arthritis, are unavoidable since they are genetic and, for some people, a result of natural aging. However, you can reduce your risk of developing the condition by:

  • Wearing a mouthguard when playing contact sports
  • Wearing a mouthguard at night if you grind or clench your teeth
  • practicing a good posture
  • Reducing stress through meditation and mindfulness

How long does TMD last?

The duration of the symptoms and effects of TMD will vary from one person to another. The cause of your conditions and the nature of your symptoms can dictate the duration of your treatment. Some symptoms go away within two weeks, while others can last for months or years.

When should I consult with a dentist?

The symptoms of TMD resemble those of other oral health conditions. Therefore, it would be best to consult your dentist if you experience persistent jaw pain and constant jaw popping. The dentist can perform X-rays and other diagnostic tests to rule out your TMD. Additionally, they will ensure that you receive the proper treatment.

Find Expert Dental Services

The jawbone consists of muscles that control the opening of your mouth when eating or speaking. However, trauma to your face, teeth grinding, and arthritis can cause temporomandibular joint disorders. If you experience symptoms like a locking jaw, popping sounds from your jaw, and chronic pain in the neck and jaw, you must consult your dentist.

The dentist will assess your symptoms and perform other diagnostic tests, including X-rays and CT scans, to determine whether you have a temporomandibular joint disorder. TMD can cause severe pain and discomfort, which impacts your everyday life.

Therefore, your dentist can recommend different treatment alternatives, including medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Your oral health can significantly impact your overall well-being, so you will not entrust it to anyone. At Tayani Dental Group, we offer our clients safe, convenient, and effective treatment for TMJ and other oral health complications in Fullerton, CA. Contact us at 949-741-0795 to book an appointment.