Your temporomandibular joint, functioning like a sliding hinge, connects your jawbone to your skull. One joint exists on both sides of your jaw. TMJ disorders of the temporomandibular joint can cause pain in the jaw joint and muscles controlling jaw movement.
The precise reasons for your jaw discomfort are often challenging to determine. The discomfort may emanate from various factors like genetics, arthritis, jaw injury, et cetera. Some people with jaw pain also grind and clench their teeth because of bruxism. However, people habitually clenching and grinding their jaw and teeth may never develop this disorder.
The pain and distress associated with TMJ disorders are generally temporary and are best managed by self-managed care and nonsurgical treatments. However, if conservative treatments fail, surgery is typically the last resort beneficial for some people with TMJ disorders.
If affected by a TMJ disorder, you may experience pain and tenderness in your jaw, besides pain in one or both TMJ joints. You may have an aching pain in and around your ear besides challenges when chewing and pain. In addition, you will experience aching facial pain, and locking of the jaw joint, making it challenging to open and close your mouth.
Clicking sounds or grating sensations when opening or closing your mouth are also some challenges you experience. However, if you have no pain or limitation in movement associated with your jaw, you will not need treatment for the TMJ disorder.
Unfortunately, if your jaw is painful, it helps if you seek medical attention from a TMJ specialist near you, especially if you find it challenging to open your mouth or chew foods. Your doctor, the TMJ specialist, can discuss the causes of the problem and treatments to deal with it.
Combining a hinge action with sliding motions makes up the TMJ joint. The parts of the bones interacting with the joint are encircled with cartilage and divided by a tiny shock-absorbing disk to keep the movement smooth. You will experience painful TMJ disorders with the erosion of the disk or its movement out of proper alignment, damage to the joint’s cartilage by arthritis, or impacts and blows. Unfortunately, the reasons for TMJ disorders are unclear in many cases.
The factors increasing the risks of developing TMJ disorders include jaw injury, long-term bruxism, and different types of arthritis like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, connective tissue diseases causing problems may also offer the TMJ joint.
Prosthodontists receive training to treat TMJ disorders. While various treatment options exist depending on their severity and cause, the options are conservative and helpful in not producing permanent damage to the teeth. The treatments offered by prosthodontists include physical therapy and exercise, pharmacologic therapy, and occlusal splints or orthotic devices.
If you visit the dentist in Magnolia, TX, a TMJ specialist they will inquire about your symptoms and examine your jaw. They will listen to your jaw, feel it when opening and closing your mouth, and note its range of movement by pressing around your jaw to identify areas of discomfort.
If the specialist suspects a problem, they recommend dental x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans that reveal issues with the joint’s disk or the soft tissues surrounding them.
TMJ disorders often disappear without treatment. However, if the symptoms persist, the specialist might recommend various options for TMJ treatment in Magnolia, TX. Usually, multiple treatments are performed for the condition simultaneously.
Besides nonsurgical treatments, you may receive medication options to help relieve the pain associated with TMJ disorders. They may include pain relievers or anti-inflammatories, tricyclic antidepressants, and muscle relaxants for relief.
Nondrug therapies include oral splints or mouthguards, physical therapy, and counseling to help you understand behaviors that aggravate discomfort.
The specialist may recommend surgery if conservative treatments fail by suggesting arthrocentesis, injections, TMJ arthroscopy, modified condylotomy, and open joint surgery.
Lifestyle and home remedies are also beneficial to alleviate pain associated with TMJ disorders. They include avoiding excessive use of your jaw muscles, stretching and massage, and heat and cold therapy. In addition, the TMJ specialist can guide you through various treatment options to help you find relief from the discomfort associated with the disorder.
If affected by TMJ disorders, kindly do not endure the problem but seek help from Tamborello Dentistry, offering many conservative remedies for assistance. Kindly meet with them today to assess your condition and receive a treatment best suited to your needs.