TMJ - Jaw Joint
Problems:
"TMJ
Syndrome" is a cycle of pain, muscle spasms, and joint imbalance in
the area where the jaw meets the skull. T.M.J.
is an acronym for Temporo-Mandibular Joint. This joint connects the
temporal bone of the skull with the mandible bone of the jaw.
Cushioning these two bones is a thin disc of cartilage, and five muscles
support this joint.
When the balance of these bones, cartilage, and muscles is lost, the
result can be:
 | Headaches and/or earaches |
| Difficulty in opening and closing
your mouth |
| Clicking or popping in the joint |
| Dull aching pain around the ear
that spreads into the face |
| Sore or painful jaw muscles. |
| |
The
condition can be caused by:
| Clenching or grinding the teeth |
| A bad bite caused by missing teeth
or poorly-aligned teeth |
| A blow to the joint |
| Arthritis |
| Emotional stress |
Clenching
and grinding will often go away once any potential stress has been
reduced; thus, ending the cycle of T.M.J. syndrome.
In
the meantime, there are other ways to break this cycle. You can:
| Reduce muscle spasms and pain with
moist heat |
| Take inflammation-reducing drugs
and muscle relaxants |
| Have the muscles massaged |
| Eat a soft diet |
To
restore balance to the joint, your Dentist may recommend:
| crown
teeth |
| fill
spaces |
| adjust
the bite |
| move
teeth |
In
extremely severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the damaged
part of the joint.
A
splint, which is a plastic mouthpiece, can reduce clenching and grinding
and help restore harmony to the joint.
Millions
of people suffer from TMJ disorder. Treatment and lifestyle changes
can break the TMJ disorder cycle and restore comfort to the joint.
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When
Chewing:
Jaw-joint
pain when chewing is a symptom of Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD) or
more commonly called "TMJ Syndrome". The
syndrome is most prevalent with women between the ages of 25 and
40. TMJ can be caused by:
| bad
bite |
| misaligned
teeth |
| missing
teeth |
| arthritis |
| emotional
stress |
Treatment:
Have
your Dentist (or a Dentist who focuses on this disorder - there is no
official specialty in dentistry for TMJ problems) perform a complete
diagnosis to determine the causes so that a treatment program can be
established. A wide range of treatments are
available.
For
a more comprehensive explanation see "Take this Book to the
Dentist with You", by Charles B. Inlander.
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After
Sleeping:
Experiencing
jaw-joint pain in the mornings is an indication that you are grinding and
clenching your teeth during the night. This is one of the causes of
Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD).
The
syndrome is most prevalent with women between the ages of 25 and
40. TMJ can be caused by:
| bad
bite |
| misaligned
teeth |
| missing
teeth |
| arthritis |
| emotional
stress |
Treatment:
Have
your Dentist (or a Dentist who focuses on this disorder - there is no
official specialty in dentistry for TMJ problems) perform a complete
diagnosis to determine the causes so that a treatment program can be
established. A wide range of treatments are
available.
For
a more comprehensive explanation see "Take this Book to the
Dentist with You", by Charles B. Inlander.
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