What is TMJ Disorder and can it be treated?
TMJ disorder stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. The temporomandibular joint is where the top jaw meets the bottom jaw directly in front of your ears, and is used every time you move your mouth to talk, chew or yawn. TMJ disorder refers to any problem with the jaw muscles or joints and can lead to stiffness, earaches, headaches, bite problems, lockjaw and clicking sounds. These are the most common symptoms, especially pain, but you may also experience a ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or clogged feeling ears and dizziness.
What causes it?
There are many causes of TMJ disorder. These include:
- Teeth grinding and jaw clenching which wears down the cartilage of the joint.
- Misalignment of the teeth leading to difficulty biting.
- Frequent gum chewing or biting the fingernails.
- Fractures or other trauma to the jaws.
- Stress, which can cause people to unconsciously clench their jaws.
How is it Treated?
Once you have been diagnosed with TMJ disorder, you will need a full dental and medical evaluation. Any London dentists should be able to perform this and will have gained a wealth of experience with such matters through a dental course. The main treatments are very simple but you should make sure to find a practitioner who is respected in their dental job concerning such matters. You should rest your jaw by avoiding chewing gum, hard foods or opening your mouth too wide, and use heat packs and ice packs to control the inflammation and pain. Anti-inflammatory medication is also recommended. Other potential treatments include physical therapy, stress therapy, bite correction, occlusal therapy, and as a last resort, surgery.
Tags: TMJ Disorder, treated