Understanding Symptoms Of TMJ
The TMJ is the joint that is responsible for connecting your lower jaw to your skull. It can be found on both sides of your head and ears. The primary purpose of the TMJ is to be able to help you to open or close your mouth while eating or speaking. Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) essentially affect the muscles and ligaments around the jaw joints. People frequently get TMJ discomfort due to poor chewing habits or wear and tear. You will be able to determine if you have TMJ if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Discomfort in the jaw
- Face discomfort and migraines
- An old jaw injury’s pain
- Problems in chewing food properly
- You might often hear popping sounds from the TMJ site, which shows that the joint might be affected.
What Causes TMJ?
The TMJ is considered to be a combined hinge action capable of sliding motions. The bones interacting with the joints are essentially covered with cartilage, which facilitates smooth movement of the jaws. However, the following reasons are prevalent in the case of TMJ dysfunctioning:
- The erosion of the shock-absorbing disk, thereby contributing to improper alignment of jaws
- Damaged jaw due to a blow
- Joint cartilage damage because of arthritis
TMJ Disorder Treatment
TMJ is a serious concern, and it is imperative that you consult with your dentist as soon as you get to see the above-mentioned symptoms. It has been found that sometimes the symptoms of this condition often go without treatment. There are varied treatment options, which include medication, as well as therapies, and surgical procedures. The following are the major elements of TMJ disorder treatment and are as follows:
Medications
In case your scenario requires non-surgical procedures, your orthodontist will provide you with medications. Some of the notable instances of medication include the use of pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Apart from this, muscle relaxants are used by orthodontists to relieve the pain caused by TMJ disorders, followed by muscle spasms. Apart from this, the use of Tricyclic antidepressants is also potential medicine provided if you have a TMJ disorder. Such medications are responsible for pain relief and sleeplessness.
Surgical Procedure
After your orthodontist has evaluated all possible options for TMJ disorder, a surgical procedure is an ultimate resort for you. There are various surgical procedures that are prevalent, out of which, the following are done:
- TMJ arthroscopy, which involves an open-joint surgery.
- Modified condylotomy, which involves surgery on the mandible, helps in easing the pain.
- Corticosteroid injections into the joint are also found to be helpful. In this, the injections are put into the jaw muscles, which helps in relieving pain associated with TMJ disorders.
Physical Therapy
Sometimes you will find that your orthodontist will not provide you with any drug therapy based on your condition. In that case, the use of mouthguards or occlusal appliances is found to be in use. Physical therapy includes exercises for stretching and strengthening jaw muscles. Some of the notable treatments tend to include ultrasound as well.
However, all medication and surgical procedures cannot be enough if you do not follow certain definite regulations. TMJ disorder is serious, as it affects your speech and eating habits largely. Thus, it is important to maintain the resting position of your jaw. For doing this, you might need physical therapy. but you also need to maintain it. This is however recommended that you listen to your orthodontist for your rules and regulations.
Schedule Appointment With Leading Dentists In Orange Park
Looking for TMJ treatment processes near me? Don’t worry, Dr. Andrew Brown Orthodontics are at your rescue. Visit our dental office where we will give you every possible alternative to the pain that you are experiencing because of TMJ dysfunctioning. Schedule an appointment with us, where we give you the best treatment you can ever imagine. Connect with us today for the best TMJ treatment in Orange Park.
