TMJ –TMD Solutions:

Many millions suffer from TMJ disorder, a condition that affects the function of the temporomandibular joint, or jaw joint.

 Despite this fact, TMJ remains one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of dentistry.

For an answer to the question “What is TMJ?" and to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this disorder, please read the sections below.

What is the Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ?

The temporomandibular joints connect the jawbone to the skull. Located at the sides of the head near each ear, these joints play an essential role in eating, speaking, and making facial expressions. In fact, the temporomandibular joint ( TMJ) is one of the most frequently used and complex joints in the entire body.

TMJ Solutions can help you find a TMJ dentist in your area today.

TMJ disorder can develop when one or both of the temporomandibular joints stop functioning properly. This may happen due to any number of causes and may result in chronic ear pain, jaw stiffness and soreness, difficulty opening the mouth, jaw popping or clicking, and headaches. Sufferers of TMJ disorder may experience either sharp pain or a dull, constant ache. Because the causes and symptoms of TMJ disorder are so varied, the condition is typically classified into three main sub-categories:

• Myofacial pain
• Internal derangement of the joint
• Inflammatory joint disease

These classifications help doctors develop more effective treatment options for sufferers of TMJ disorder, based on each patient’s unique symptoms and needs. For proper diagnosis and treatment of TMJ conditions, a patient may require evaluations from multiple medical specialists. In addition to general dentists, dentists trained in neuromuscular dentistry, primary care physicians, and otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists) are typically sought for TMJ diagnosis and care. These health care professionals can provide more information on what causes the condition, how it is treated, and other TMJ topics.

TMJ Symptoms and Causes

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joints on either side of the jaw. Often referred to as TMD (temporomandibular disorders), can lead to serious headaches or acute neck, ear, jaw joint and cheek pain. Depending on the causes of TMJ and the symptoms you are exhibiting, an experienced dentist can provide the treatment you need to reduce your discomfort.

What are the Causes of TMJ?

There are many causes of TMJ disorders and jaw joint pain, including:

• Cartilage wear and tear - The cartilage disks that pad the TMJ become worn or displaced, causing painful grinding of the jaw bone.
• Dislocated TMJ – Dislocation of the joint is indicated by popping and cracking noises when the jaw is opened or closed, and may negatively affect movement of the jaw and strain the musculature of the jaw, face, and neck.
• Clenching and grinding – Habitual clenching and grinding of the teeth places extreme pressure and strain on the joints and is one of the most common causes of TMJ disorders. The added stress on the jaw joint can cause wear and tear of the cartilage disks, and may even cause the jaw joint to become dislocated.
• Misaligned bite – If the bite of the upper and lower teeth is not aligned properly, everyday jaw movement like chewing can take a toll on the TMJ and strain the surrounding musculature.
• Arthritis – Arthritis can cause uncomfortable inflammation of the TMJ and may also result in swelling in the adjoining tissues, ligaments and muscles. Those with arthritis may experience difficulty opening and closing their mouth, as well as other painful TMJ symptoms.

After a thorough examination of your jaw joint and its articulation with the surrounding structures, a dentist specializing in TMD can determine the causes of your TMJ symptoms and develop an appropriate solution

 

What are the Symptoms of TMJ?

The symptoms associated with TMJ disorders will vary from person to person, depending on the unique causes of their discomfort. TMJ symptoms can include the following:

TMJ and Jaw Joint Pain

For those suffering from TMJ disorders, jaw joint pain is one of the most common complaints. Many patients notice a clicking, popping, or grinding sound when they chew or yawn and describe the pain they are experiencing as either dull and constant or sharp and sporadic.

TMJ and Ear Pain

Many TMD sufferers do not know that their TMJ is the source of the ear pain they are experiencing, and assume instead that it must be caused by an ear infection or another inner ear problem. Because the TMJs are located right next to the ears, radiating pain from the affected joint, nerves, or other surrounding structures may seem like it is originating from the ears.

Headaches and TMJ

Moderate to severe headaches can be caused by TMJ disorders. Improper articulation of the jaw joint can strain muscles and ligaments that attach to the skull, and even pinch nerves, causing painful headaches. Those with headache pain may also be experiencing TMJ related symptoms such as neck pain.

TMJ and Tooth Pain

TMJ is most often linked to tooth pain in those patients who routinely clench or grind their teeth. The extreme pressure absorbed by the teeth and jaw joints while clenching or grinding can cause serious pain in the cheeks and damage in both areas.

Locate a TMJ Dentist Quickly

If you are experiencing any of the TMJ symptoms mentioned above, find a TMJ dentist who is experienced in TMJ disorders. A dentist will be able to diagnose TMJ dysfunction and possibly identify the specific causes of your TMJ-related pain.

TMJ Treatment

TMJ syndrome is a condition that occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects the upper and lower jaw is misaligned or stressed. This can cause pain in the jaw, the face, and in extreme cases, the neck and shoulders. The causes of TMJ syndrome require careful analysis. Once the causes have been determined, there are a multitude of TMJ treatment options available from dentists, including pain relief through the application of mouth guards, bite therapy, and TMJ exercises.

Treatment for TMJ Pain

TMJ treatment, referred to by some dentists as TMJ therapy, includes many options. The first step is to relieve the pain with the application of mouth guards, also known as dental splints. The next step in TMJ treatment is to apply bite therapy principles and tools to analyze the cause of the misalignment or stress that is causing the problem. If necessary, a routine of jaw exercises will be created to eliminate the clenching or grinding that is contributing to the stress on the lower jaw.

TMJ Mouth Guards for Pain Relief

TMJ mouth guards are soft plastic protectors that slip over the upper and lower teeth to prevent grinding of the teeth. Guards make it more difficult to clench the jaws, an important first step in TMJ pain relief. Your dentist will take a mold of your upper and lower teeth to custom-fit your TMJ mouth guards for maximum comfort and efficiency.

Jaw Exercises for TMJ

TMJ exercises are designed to relax the jaw and eliminate clenching, and also to help in the correction of alignment problems. After careful analysis, your dentist may provide you with an appropriate series of very simple exercises to be performed in front of a mirror. The use of a mirror in TMJ exercises helps you see the misalignment that is one of the factors in TMJ syndrome. Gradually, the exercises will teach you control of the jaw muscles and eliminate clenching.

TMJ Bite Therapy

A process known as TMJ therapy, or bite therapy, is used by dentists to help find the causes of TMJ syndrome and provide long-term pain relief. TMJ bite treatment begins with a careful, detailed analysis of your mouth and jaw to find the causes of your disorder. For some, the issue may be jaw clenching; this can usually be attributed to stress or simply a bad habit. For others, the teeth may not come together evenly, a condition known as malocclusion. This can cause uneven use of the jaw and result in muscle pain. Dentists have several tools at their disposal to measure bite pressure throughout the mouth and formulate a plan for dental work that will correct malocclusion and provide TMJ pain relief.

Find a Specialist Near You

TMJ syndrome is a complicated subject within the field of dentistry. The level of training and TMJ treatment experience among dentists varies considerably. TMJ Solutions can help you with the background necessary to offer a high level of skilled treatment for TMJ.

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Find a TMJ dentist

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD or TMD), or TMJ syndrome, is an term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull.

This disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain and impairment. Because the disorder transcends the boundaries between several health-care disciplines, in particular, dentistry and neurology, there are a variety of treatment approaches.

The temporomandibular joint is susceptible to many of the conditions that affect other joints in the body, including ankylosis, arthritis, trauma, dislocations, developmental anomalies, and neoplasia.

An older name for the condition is "Costen syndrome", named for the man who partially characterized it in 1934.

Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder vary in their presentation and can be very complex, but are often simple.

 On average the symptoms will involve more than one of the numerous TMJ components: muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, connective tissue, and the teeth.  Ear pain associated with the swelling of proximal tissue is a symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder.

Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders may be:

• Biting or chewing difficulty or discomfort
• Clicking, popping, or a grating sound when opening or closing the mouth
• Dull, aching pain in the face
• Earache (mostly in the morning)
• Headache (mostly in the morning)
• Migraine (mostly in the morning)
• Jaw pain or tenderness of the jaw
• Reduced ability to open or close the mouth
• Tinnitus
• Neck and shoulder pain

Temporomandibular joints

Unlike typical finger or vertebral junctions, each TMJ actually has two joints, which allows it to rotate and to translate (slide). With use, it is common to see wear of both the bone and cartilage components of it. Clicking is common, as are popping and deviations in the movements of the joint. Pain is the most conventional signifier of TMJ.

In a healthy joint, the surfaces in contact with one another (bone and cartilage) do not have any receptors to transmit the feeling of pain. The pain therefore originates from one of the surrounding soft tissues, or from the trigeminal nerve itself, which runs through the joint area. When receptors from one of these areas are triggered, the pain can cause a reflex to limit the mandible's movement. Furthermore, inflammation of the joints or damage to the trigeminal nerve can cause constant pain, even without movement of the jaw.

Due to the proximity of the ear to the temporomandibular joint, TMJ pain can often be confused with ear pain The pain may be referred in around half of all patients and experienced as otalgia (earache). Conversely, TMD is an important possible cause of secondary otalgia. Treatment of TMD may then significantly reduce symptoms of otalgia and tinnitus, as well as atypical facial pain.^[  Despite some of these findings, some researchers question whether TMD therapy can reduce symptoms in the ear, and there is currently an on going debate to settle the controversy.

The dysfunction involved is most often in regards to the relationship between the condyle of the mandible and the disc. The sounds produced by this dysfunction are usually described as a "click" or a "pop" when a single sound is heard and as "crepitation" or "crepitus" when there are multiple, rough sounds.

Teeth

Disorders of the teeth can contribute to TMJ dysfunction. Impaired tooth mobility and tooth loss can be caused by destruction of the supporting bone and by heavy forces being placed on teeth. The movement of the teeth affects how they contact one another when the mouth closes, and the overall relationship between the teeth, muscles, and joints can be altered. Pulpitis, inflammation of the dental pulp, is another symptom that may result from excessive surface erosion. Maybe the most important factor is the way the teeth meet together: the equilibration of forces of mastication and therefore the displacements of the condyle. Many report TMJ dysfunction after having their wisdom teeth extracted.

Cause

There are many external factors that place undue strain on the TMJ. These include but are not limited to the following:

Over-opening the jaw beyond its range for the individual or unusually aggressive or repetitive sliding of the jaw sideways (laterally) or forward (protrusive). These movements may also be due to parafunctional habits or a malalignment of the jaw or dentition. This may be due to:

1. Trauma
2. Bruxism (repetitive unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth, often at night).
3. Malalignment of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth due to dental defect or neglect.
4. Jaw thrusting (causing unusual speech and chewing habits).
5. Excessive gum chewing or nail biting.
6. Size of food bites eaten.
7. Degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or organic degeneration of the articular surfaces, recurrent fibrous and/or bony ankylosis, developmental abnormality, or pathologic lesions within the TMJ
8. Myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome
9. Lack of overbite

Patients of TMJ often experience pain such as migraines or headaches, and consider this pain TMJ-related. There is some evidence for this in that more than 50% of people who use nighttime biofeedback to reduce nighttime clenching experience a significant reduction in migraines and headaches as well as a reduction in direct TMJ pain^.

TMJ disorder is a cause of migraines and headaches, other causes should also be considered.

Migraine Solutions in Terrace

 

Do you suffer from Migraine Headaches?

Tried Doctors, Medical Specialists, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists,
Physio’s along with every type of medication on the market
yet your still in constant pain?

There is a cure  - Neuromuscular Migraine Dentistry.

Up to 90% of patients treated through Neuromuscular Dentistry have become pain free or have obtained substantial relief from the debilitating condition.

Then, if you’re over living a life of pain, constantly taking drugs, being absent from work, and having a disrupted social life, then simply click the “GO” button and locate the nearest Neuromuscular dentist, who has been trained in this field and you’re on the road to recovery like thousands of.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems manifest themselves in a variety of ways. The most common symptoms of TMJ are migraine headaches. Commonly a tension headache. Many people who suffer from this type of headache describe it as a ring of pain around the head. TMJ related headaches are often caused where there is a constant contraction of the muscles in the jaw. This results in tension in the face, head and neck.

 This tension in the muscles reduces the amount of blood that is able to reach the area. The body responds by sending more blood to the area, which results in an increase in blood pressure to the muscles of the head resulting in a headache.  Clenching and grinding of teeth is creating a contraction of the muscles, which results in pain.

Aligning the temporomandibular joint and placing the jaw into its optimal position through neuromuscular dentistry can alleviate most headache problems related to TMJ, muscle, nerve and joint disorder.

Many millions suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that can often be debilitating. There are 3 times as many women sufferers as men. While any headache can uncomfortable, migraine headaches will often cause incapacitation.

People will often experience a warning know as an aura. These are usually sensations such as flashing lights, blind spots or tingling in the extremities.

In addition to the pain of a headache, migraine symptoms can also include nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to sound and light.

The only relief many can find is by retreating to a dark quiet room for hours or even days. When left untreated, a typical migraine can last anywhere from 4 hours to days.

There is a lot that is not understood about headaches. Some researchers believe that migraines may be the result of changes in the trigeminal nerve system, which is a major pathway in the cranial nervous system. It is felt that changes in brain chemicals such as serotonin affect the pain messages running along this pathway.

When a headache occurs, the level of serotonin in the brain drops. Scientists believe that this causes the trigeminal nerve to release a protein which travels to the brain's outer covering. This protein causes the blood vessels of the outer covering to become dilated and inflamed. This results in a headache.

The type of migraine varies from person to person. Most people don't experience the aura before their headache. Those that do are experiencing what is known as a Classic Migraine. Whether you experience an aura or not, many people have sensations or premonitions before the headache actually occurs.

 These symptoms may include: elation or intense levels of energy, craving for sweets, drowsiness, irritability, depression or thirst.

Migraine headache triggers

There are a number of things that may trigger a migraine:
• Hormonal changes. The exact mechanism between headaches and hormones is not fully understood. Changes in estrogens and progesterone seem to cause migraine in a number of women. Women who have a history of migraines report there occurrence right before or after their periods. Those women who take contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy often report migraines.
• Foods. Many people develop headaches after eating certain food. The most common food causes include: alcohol, especially red wine; aged cheeses; chocolate; fermented, pickled or marinated foods; aspartame; caffeine; monosodium glutamates; certain seasonings; and many canned and processed foods.
• Stress. Stress is often cited as a major contributor to migraines. Whether it occurs at home or work, the body can react to stress with a headache.
• Sensory stimulus. Bright or flashing lights and glaring sun can causes headache pain. Certain smells such as perfume and flowers, and unpleasant odours, such as paint thinner and cigarette smoke.
• Physical factors. Heavy manual work or exercise can set off a headache. Also, changes in sleep habits including too much or too little sleep can trigger a headache.
• Changes in the environment. Changes in the weather, such as rain storms or changes in altitude, such as going to the mountains, can result in a headache. A change of weather, season, altitude level, barometric pressure or time zone can prompt a migraine headache.
• Medications. Certain medications can aggravate migraines - Neuromuscular migraine dentistry is a more permanent option

All of these factors can contribute to the occurrence of a migraine headache.                                                                             

But the biggest factor is a poor bite relationship.

When the upper and lower jaw are not aligned properly, it results in the muscles being in a constant state of contraction.

These muscles cause the jaws to come together 2000-3000 times every day during chewing and swallowing.

After a while, the muscles get tired and go into spasm. There is a build-up of lactic acid and other waste metabolites due to increased blood pressure in the muscles, which prevents normal blood flow. This is the primary cause of migraines which can often be relieved through neuromuscular migraine dentistry