TMJ Therapy

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), sometimes referred to as TMJ, are quite common and can affect men, women, and children of all ages.  TMD is an umbrella term covering pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints, which connect the lower jaw to the skull, and the attached muscles that move the lower jaw. 


Signs and symptoms of TMD may include:

• Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
• Pain or tenderness in the jaw muscles
• Aching pain in and around the ear
• Pain or difficulty chewing 
• Facial pain
• Popping, clicking or crunching sounds in the jaw joints
• Locking in the jaw joint making it difficult to open or close the mouth
• Ear pain without actual ear infection
• A congested feeling in the ears
• Ringing in the ears
• Headaches

TMD is a complicated condition often making it difficult to determine the exact cause(s).  Patients with TMD exhibit symptoms that are highly variable in number, intensity and frequency.  Also, TMD-related pain is often caused by a combination of factors, such as; your “bite”, genetics, arthritis or jaw injury.  To further complicate matters, there are other conditions such as migraines, neck pain, fibromyalgia and nerve disorders that cause pain in the jaws that is similar to that of  TMD.


Many people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth (bruxism).  However,  many other people clench or grind their teeth habitually and never develop TMD pain.  In general, chronic clenching or grinding puts pressure on the jaw joints which over time may damage the ligaments and the cartilage disk inside the jaw joints.  This disk may erode or move out of its proper alignment causing clicking or locking within the join.


Fortunately, in most cases the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments.  TMD is not life-threatening, however it can be detrimental to quality of life as symptoms can become chronic and difficult to manage.


In most cases the pain associated with TMD is temporary and manageable



In most cases, TMD is related to a problem in either the chewing muscles, within the jaw joint itself, or a combination of the two.  At Viva Dental Victoria, your dentist will discuss your symptoms with you and examine your jaw.


Your dentist will:



• Listen to and feel your jaw when you open and close your mouth
• Observe the range of motion in your jaw
• Press on areas around your jaw to identify sites of pain or discomfort
• Press up on your jaw to “load” the jaw joints
  

Treatment for TMD usually involves very conservative therapies initially such as:

• Oral appliances
• Moist heat application
• Jaw exercises
• Massage or physiotherapy
• Pain medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Behavioural changes such as not chewing gum or opening wide 

If these initial treatments don't provide sufficient relief, then other options may be considered, such as:

• Botox injections in the muscles
• Medical acupuncture
• Trigger point injections
• TENS therapy

Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed, but some people with TMJ disorders may benefit from surgical treatments.

If appliance therapy has been successful in eliminating your pain, the TMD may be related to your bite.  In these cases, treatments aimed at creating a more balanced bite may be considered.  This may include reshaping of teeth (equilibration), crowns, and/or orthodontics.