facts-about-tmj-treatment

Facts about TMJ Treatment

Jan 01, 2019

What Is TMJ Treatment?

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint. It is the joint that connects the upper and lower jaw, allowing for flexible movements. The bone can be spotted in front of the ears of both sides. This joint is responsible for the frequent movements of the mouth, for example, yawning, chewing, talking, laughing, to mention a few.

TMJ treatment in Magnolia, TX major in treating any disorders in this part of the body. Usually, the disorder is called temporomandibular disorder, TMD. Some people use TMJ and TMD interchangeably, even though they have different meanings. The treatment is offered in dental facilities and can be treated by a dentist.

What Are The Signs of TMD?

For you to consider TMJ treatment at Magnolia, TX, you must know whether or not you suffer the problems related to the disorder. For your treatment, your dentist will examine your upper and lower jaw relative to the TMJ. However, before you check in for the examination, here are some tell-tale signs of TMD:

  • Jaw pain – any persistent sharp pain in your jaw area can be a sign of TMD. It can be experienced when you try to move your mouth in different positions. Notice the pain levels when you talk, yawn or chew.
  • Body aches and pain – the pain caused by the disorder will not only impact the jaw. Some patients will experience pain on the neck, shoulders, or even inside the mouth. Watch out for persistent migraine headaches, as they could imply TMJ disorder. Besides that, any pain in your ears of eyes can be a consequence of the disorder.
  • Swelling – inflammation is part of the body’s response to health problems. If you notice a swelling on the front part of your ears, then it may be a sign of the disorder. Sometimes the swelling is accompanied by pain as mentioned above. Consider also, any inflammation on other parts of the body, for example, the cheeks, neck, or even shoulders.
  • Jaw locking – some severe cases of TMD result in a locked jaw. It is when the upper and lower jaw is stuck in the open-mouth position. This is alarming and can be very painful. Regard it as a dental emergency.
  • Ear discomfort – since the joint is very close to the ears, some patients experience discomfort. This can be in the form of pain or a tingly feeling in the ears. For others, clicking sounds are heard when moving the mouth. Other than that, extreme cases of TMD can cause temporary hearing loss.

Truths about the Treatment

Unfortunately, not much is known about the causes of TMD. It is also a difficult disorder to diagnose, mostly because the symptoms and signs closely mimic those of the disease. For example, a migraine headache can have nothing to do with the TMJ, or everything to do with it. This nature of the disorder makes treatment differ in many ways.

For one, treating TMD can be with treatment as simple as mouth exercise. This will relax your facial muscles and release the tension exerted on the joint. Further, there are some facts about the treatment you should know, including the following:

It is performed by a dentist or a surgeon – depending on the kind of treatment you require for your disorder, it can be offered by either a dentist, a plastic surgeon, or an oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgeon.

It can be surgical or non-surgical – again, this depends on the kind of treatment you receive. If a surgeon is involved, then, more than likely, your treatment will be surgical. However, some dental experts can result in less invasive treatments that are non-surgical. Such include conventional therapies. Ultimately, the decision lies in the dental expert in charge of your treatment, as well as the severity of your disorder.

An x-ray is necessary – the TMJ is an intricate part of the body. You cannot afford to be misdiagnosed, especially where surgery is involved. In that case, you must have an x-ray of your head taken, to check out the internal bone structure of your face and mouth, relative to the TMJ. In that case, you can consider different treatment options, with surgery as the last result.

© 2024 Tamborello Dentistry | Privacy Policy | Web Design, Digital Marketing & SEO By Adit
Click to listen highlighted text!