Dental Procedures

TMJ TREATMENT

Trouble With Your Jaw?
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to your complex jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a "clicking" sound in your jaw, you'll be glad to know that these problems are now more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles (muscles of mastication) do not work together correctly. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.

TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, or tighten your jaw muscles and stress your TM joint. Injury, arthritis or disease can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Symptoms may include a misaligned bite, pain, a clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth or trouble opening your mouth widely.

No single treatment resolves TMJ disorders completely and treatment takes time to become effective. Highpoint Dental Medicine can refer you for the appropriate treatment.

Do You Have a TMJ Disorder?

§         Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?

§         Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?

§         Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches?

§         Does the pain get worse when you clench your teeth?

§         Does stress make your clenching and pain worse?

§         Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth?

§         Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat or yawn?

§         Have you ever injured your neck, head or jaws?

§         Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints?

§         Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?

§         Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?

§         Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?

§         Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken or worn?

The more times you answered "yes," the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.

Treatment
There are various treatment options that can improve the harmony and function of your jaw. Once an evaluation confirms a TMJ disorder, a course can be prescribed. It is important to note that treatment always works best with a team approach of self-care joined with professional care.

The initial goals are to relieve the muscle spasm and joint pain. This is usually accomplished with a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant. Steroids can be injected directly into the joints to reduce pain and inflammation. Self-care treatments can often be effective as well and include:

§         Resting your jaw

§         Keeping your teeth apart when you are not swallowing or eating

§         Eating soft foods

§         Applying ice and heat

§         Exercising your jaw

§         Practicing good posture

Stress management techniques such as biofeedback or physical therapy may also be recommended, as well as a temporary, clear plastic appliance known as a splint. A splint or night guard fits over your top or bottom teeth and helps keep your teeth apart, thereby relaxing the muscles and reducing pain. There are different types of appliances used for different purposes. A night guard helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension at night and helps to protect the cartilage and joint surfaces. An anterior positioning appliance moves your jaw forward, relieves pressure on parts of your jaw and aids in disk repositioning. It may be worn 24 hours/day to help your jaw heal. An orthotic stabilization appliance is worn 24 hours or just at night to move your jaw into proper position. Appliances also help to protect from tooth tooth wear.

What about bite correction or surgery?
If you are diagnosed with a TMJ disorder that causes problems with how your teeth fit together, recommended treatment might include bite adjustment (equilibration), orthodontics with or without jaw reconstruction or restorative dental work. Surgical options such as arthroscopy and open joint restructuring are reserved for severe cases. Highpoint Dental Medicine considers TMJ surgery only when the jaw does not open, is dislocated, has severe degeneration, or the patient has undergone appliance treatment unsuccessfully.