TMJ & TMD Treatment

The temporomandibular joint connects the temporal bones in your skull (located in front of your ears) to your jaw. It’s what enables you to move your jaw when you eat, talk, laugh or yawn. Problems with the jaw, and the facial muscles that control it, are called temporomandibular disorders, or TMD. Sometimes, such problems are also referred to as TMJ (for the joint), but TMD is the preferred term.

TMD can cause discomfort, or even severe pain. Sometimes it’s temporary. In other instances, it can last for years. Either or both sides of the face can be affected. Most people who develop TMD do so during the ages of 20-40, and it is more common in women than in men.

The Causes

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The causes of TMD are many and varied. They include:

•    Clenching or grinding the teeth, which leads to pressure on the joint
•    Injury to the jaw, the joint, or the head and neck muscles
•    Arthritis in the joint
•    Movement of the disc or soft cushion between the socket and ball of the joint

The Symptoms

Symptoms can include:

• Popping, grating or clicking sounds in our jaw when you chew, or open or close your mouth
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• A feeling of tiredness in your face
• An inability to “find” your bite – you may bite down on the tender flesh inside your mouth because your lower and upper teeth aren’t fitting together the way they should
• Jaws locking in an open or closed position
• Facial swelling
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus

These symptoms may or may not be accompanied by pain. You may also, however, have headaches, toothaches, neck pain, pain in the upper shoulders, or earaches.

Diagnosis

Other problems can cause symptoms like those described above. During a TMD assessment, Dr. Curtiss will examine your joints for tenderness or pain, and listen to the sounds that are made when you move your jaws. He’ll also check your bite, and look for any problems in your facial muscles. Other measures could include full-face x-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computer tomography) to determine whether your TMJ disc is in the correct position.

Treatments

Depending on the severity of the condition, TMD may be treated in a variety of ways. Bite problems, for instance, can often be corrected using crowns or bridges. If the problem is grinding or clenching at night, you may be fitted with a night guard that fits over your lower and upper teeth so that they’re not touching while you sleep. If you’re grinding while you’re awake, a splint is the preferred solution – it works the same way as a night guard, but you wear it all the time.

If these measures don’t help, other therapies may be considered including:

1. Ultrasound: Deep heat is directed to the joint in order to relieve pain and improve mobility.
2. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): Low-level electricity is delivered to relax the facial and joint muscles.
3. Radio Wave Therapy: The joint is stimulated using radio waves, easing pain and improving blood flow.
4. Trigger Point Injections: Anesthesia or pain medication is injected directly into the facial muscles to relieve pain.
5. Low-Level Laser Therapy: A thin laser is used to improve neck movement and reduce pain.
6. Surgery: If none of the other treatments help, surgery may be considered as a last resort.

With the advances in TMD treatment, it no longer has to mean constant discomfort or pain

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