TMJ Disorders and Their Treatment

TMJ, short for temporomandibular joint syndrome, is a disorder that affects the lower jaw or mandible. TMJ is a joint disorder that affects the joint where the jaw and skull connect. The disorder is characterized by painful jaw motion, pain in the head or neck, and problems with chewing or biting. Those with TMJ may also hear sounds of popping in the area of the joint when biting or opening and closing the mouth such as when yawning.

The TMJ joints have small cartilage discs that keep the joint functioning properly. These discs can be worn away particularly from repeated teeth grinding and clenching. Eventually the teeth may become uneven causing misalignment and pain. Another cause of TMJ syndrome can also be arthritis since this can affect all joints in the body.

The symptoms of TMJ syndrome are diverse and can often be mistaken for other disorders. The most common symptoms include jaw pain when chewing, cracking or popping sounds when opening and closing the mouth, and ear pain or ringing in the ears. If the joint becomes dislocated you may not be able to open your jaw properly. The most common cause of TMJ disorders is thought to be related to improper teeth alignment and teeth grinding.

Once TMJ syndrome is confirmed the next step is to get to the root cause of the problem. X-rays and a CT or MRI scan will help determine the problem with the jaw joint. If teeth grinding is a cause the cosmetic dentist will help reduce the problem with a bite plate. The plastic device is molded to fit your mouth and is worn at night to prevent you from being able to grind the teeth. This alone will often make a big difference in helping to relieve the pain.

Some patients find that a bite plate doesn't alleviate the problem completely. In these cases additional steps may need to be taken. Orthodontia may be needed to help change the bite or restorative dentistry may be needed to help keep the jaw in line. If these items don't relieve the problem the doctor may need to drain excess fluid from the joint. This is typically done as simple out patient treatment. The last resort is surgery to replace the jaw joints.

For more information on TMJ as well as other procedures such as implant dentistry or sedation dentistry, contact our Houston area cosmetic dentistry office.