What Is the Best Treatment for TMJ?

Chewing, laughing, talking, and smiling are natural facial movements. But for people with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), such motions bring so much discomfort. Read on to learn how to find the best treatment for TMJ.

What Is TMJ?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. These joints are in front of the ears on both sides of the face. They connect the lower jawbone to the skull to help with movements such as speaking and chewing. TMJ can get conditions that affect its surrounding ligaments, muscles, and joints.

Causes of TMJ Disorder?

Injury to your joints and their surrounding tissues can cause TMJ disorder. Other causes include:

 

• Improper bite
   

• Bruxism
   

• Arthritis in the temporomandibular
   

• Acute trauma
   

• Disc dislocation between socket joint and the ball
   

• Stress

TMJ Symptoms

Temporomandibular dysfunction affects individuals 20 to 40 years old, often women. Below are some of the common temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms:

 

• Tooth pain
   

• Jaw pain
   

• Swelling on your face sides
   

• Headaches
   

• Alterations in how your teeth fit together
   

• Earaches
   

• Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
   

• Pain in the shoulders and neck
   

• Difficulty chewing
   

• Difficulty opening the mouth wide
   

• Fatigue feeling on your face
   

• Locking jaws when you open or close your mouth
   

• Grating, popping, and clicking sounds when closing or opening your mouth

TMJ Dysfunction Diagnosis

Most of the time, a temporomandibular dysfunction diagnosis happens during dental checkups. Your specialist will ask you to open and close your mouth as they observe the movements. They will press your jaw and face to know the areas you experience discomfort. The healthcare provider will also feel around the jaw joints when you make the opening and closing movements.

Your specialist may order X-rays or radiographs to help them view your jaw joints. The imaging will show the damage extent. They may use panoramic X-rays to get a broad overview of your TMJs, jawbone, and teeth.

Cone beam computed tomography scans (CBCT) can help capture thousands of sinuses, facial bones, jaws, and teeth images. The pictures will be stitched together to form a 3-D image. With it, your specialist will get a more detailed view of the anatomy of your face.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also help view the soft tissues around and inside your jaw joints in some cases. The images will show jaw locking, inflammation, and disk positioning. Those inform your specialist if your TMJ disc is in good condition or functioning well.

The Best Treatment for TMJ

TMJ disorder does not have one single best treatment. Most times, TMJ pain can clear without treatment. However, your medical care provider can recommend different treatments if your symptoms persist.

Your doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatories and pain relievers such as ibuprofen and Tylenol. Therapies also relieve TMJ pain. Your specialist can give you mouth guards that you can wear overnight. Physical therapy can also strengthen your jaw muscles and make them flexible. Cold and hot compresses can also help.

Surgical procedures can also help in treating TMJ disorder. Your doctor can recommend arthrocentesis. It is a minimally invasive surgery that removes inflammatory by-products and debris. Injections can also relieve TMJ pain.

For more about treating TMJ, visit Concierge Smile Boutique at our office in Culver City, California. Call (424) 404-6400 to book an appointment today.