What is it TMJ and How to Treat It

Typical dental procedures, or even check-ups, can be terrifying for some people. Many
people out there have a fear of going to the dentist, even for mundane experiences.

That said, things might get scary even for those who do not possess this phobia when strange, long words with obscure acronyms start coming out. One such threatening acronym is TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome.

So, what is this temporomandibular joint syndrome, and how worried about it should you
be? Read on to learn more.

What Is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint is the point where your jaw is connected to your skull. This joint can be damaged and experience inflammation through injury, misalignment, teeth grinding, poor posture, arthritis, or even stress and gum chewing.

When this happens, you may experience a localized pain disorder called a temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ.

Diagnosing TMJ

Some signs and symptoms of having TMJ include:

• Jaw pain, clicking, and popping
• Earaches and popping in the ears
• Headaches
• Sore or stiff jaw muscles
• Pain at the temples
• Locking of the jaw joint

If you are experiencing these symptoms and are concerned, please visit a dentist for a check-up.

Your healthcare professional will discuss your symptoms with you and do some further assessments.

This may include listening to and feeling your jaw when you open and close your mouth, observing your jaw’s range of motion, and compressing areas around your jaw to identify sites of pain or discomfort.

From there, your dentist may request further testing. X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans may all be required to get a clearer picture of your teeth, jaw, and the various bones and soft tissues involved in keeping your jaw working well and without discomfort.

Alternatively, TMJ arthroscopy may be used to diagnose a TMJ disorder. During this process, your doctor will insert a thin tube into the joint space, followed by a tiny camera. This can help to make a confident diagnosis.

Treating TMJ

Some cases of TMJ can and do go away without treatment or simply using home remedies. However, this is not the rule. If your condition persists, there are a variety of options to handle this situation.

Home Remedies and Stress Reduction

You can try to relieve the pain using an ice pack or over-the-counter pain medications. During this time, you should also try to avoid hard foods and chewing gum.

Take some time off to relax or try stress management techniques to take away the potential root of the problem.

Medications

Your doctor or dentist may prescribe more potent or specific medications to help alleviate your condition. These medications include analgesics, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants.

Oral Appliances

Professionals, such as Dr. Brett Hester, a dentist in Valdosta, GA, use an oral appliance to reduce the strain on jaw joints and reduce pain in patients who experience TMJ.

Appliances, whether soft or firm, such as oral splints or mouth guards, can help treat this disorder.

Therapies

A healthcare professional can recommend appropriate stretches to help relieve pain for TMJ syndrome.

This can help to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles to solve the problem. Massage of the jaw area may also be helpful.

Other therapies may include using ultrasound or even counselling to reduce stress and behavior that induces pain.

Surgery and Other Procedures

You can receive an injection of Botox to help relax the jaw muscles. However, this is not currently an FDA-approved treatment for TMJ. You can also have corticosteroid injections into the joint as a treatment.

If all else fails, surgery is an option to treat severe cases of TMJ. Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny needles inserted into the jaw joint to irrigate the joint to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts using fluid.

The TMJ arthroscopy used to diagnose the condition may also be reused during surgery to treat it. This has fewer risks and complications as compared to open-joint surgery.

A modified condylotomy manages TMJ indirectly by conducting surgery on the lower jaw instead of the joint itself.

Lastly, you may require open-joint surgery if a structural problem in the joint causes your TMJ condition. If possible, the joint will be repaired. Otherwise, you may need a replacement.

Make sure to discuss all these options with your dentist or doctor in detail to better understand all the risks and benefits.

Ask as many questions as you want. If your dentist is unwilling to respond and include you in the decision-making process, find another one.

It is important to make informed treatment decisions that you feel comfortable with and give you peace of mind.