TMJ – What You Need to Know?

The temporomandibular joint syndrome is caused by the injury or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint is the connection between jawbone to the skull.

The TMJ is located in front of the ear and involves pain in the face, eye, forehead, ear, or neck. To diagnose the TMJ disorder, the savvy dentists Pearland TX will take your complete health history and conduct a physical exam. Here is everything you need to know about TMJ.

Signs of TMJ Dysfunctioning

The dysfunction of the TMJ causes various signs and symptoms including:

• It causes pain in the jaw near the area of the joint.
• Feeling of popping or clicking of the jaw.
• A person may feel ear pain, hear sounds of cracking in the ears, ringing sounds in-ear, or may feel a sense of fullness in their ears.
• It causes headaches, migraines as well as blurred vision.
• The neck muscles may feel tight, stiff, sore jaw, or muscle spasms in the jaw.
• Pain in the face, mouth, jaw, and cheek.
• Feeling of numbness or tingling in the chin.
• Difficulty to chew food, or may face the problem of lockjaw.
• It may also cause a feeling of dizziness.

What Causes TMJ?

TMJ is caused by grinding or clenching of teeth as it puts a lot of pressure on joints. The movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint or arthritis in the joint can also cause TMJ disorder. Stress is also responsible for the tightening of jaw muscles or clenching of teeth, thereby leading to TMJ disorder.

Treatment Options for TMJ Disorder

Lifestyle changes to relieve TMJ include:

• You must avoid the overuse of jaw muscles by taking soft foods, consuming small pieces of food. You should also avoid chewing gums or taking sticky foods.
• Try stretching and massaging your jaw muscles by consulting your dentist.
• Apply a hot or cold pack to the side of your face to reduce the pain.
• Avoid resting your chin on your hand. Holding the phone in between your shoulder and ear should be avoided and maintain a good posture to reduce the neck and facial pain.
• To avoid clenching or grinding of teeth during the day, keep the teeth slightly apart.

Some other treatment options are:

Mouthguard

The dentist will recommend wearing a mouth guard at night to reduce the effects of clenching and teeth grinding. They also help to correct the bite by putting the teeth in the correct position.

Dental Work

The dentist might perform some dental work like using crowns, bridges, or braces that helps to balance the biting surfaces of teeth and helps to correct the biting problem.

Arthrocentesis

In this procedure, small needles are inserted into the joint to remove the debris and inflammatory by-products from the joint.

Injections

Botox injections or corticosteroid injections are helpful for some people that help to relieve TMJ related pain.

Open Joint Surgery

Sometimes open joint surgery is required in cases when the bony structures in the jaw are worn out and having tumors in or around the joint.

Also, when the joint is scarred or full of bone chips, the doctor performs the surgery under anesthesia. He or she opens the entire area around the joint to get better access. The healing period is long after the surgery and can cause scarring and nerve injury.

The temporomandibular joint disorder needs treatment as soon as you find out its symptoms. Skilled dentist in Pearland TX helps you get the right treatment on time and prevent severe complications in the future.