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Understanding The Basics Of TMD

Middle-aged woman wincing and holding her cheek in pain while wearing a dental bib against a soft blue background.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) attaches the jaws to the skull, facilitating movements in the mouth relating to eating, speaking, and other functions. It helps the lower jaws (mandibles) to pivot around the temporal bone on the side of the head. You can feel it in action by pressing your fingers to your cheeks right in front of your ear and then opening and closing your mouth. When you open and close your mouth, the rounded ends of the lower jaw, called condyles, roll on a disc around the joint socket of the temporal bone.

What Are Temporomandibular Joint Disorders?

Symptoms relating to TMJ problems are generally called temporomandibular joint disorders or TMD. TMD is an acronym for temporomandibular disorders. These are disorders that may affect your jaw muscles, nerves associated with chronic facial pain, and temporomandibular joints (TMJ). In other words, TMD could be anything that interferes with the normal functioning of the complex system of your facial muscles and joints. It can be classified as myofascial pain, internal derangement of some joints, or degenerative joint disease. Out of the three forms, myofascial pain is the most common. But you can have one or all of these conditions affecting you at the same time.

Causes Of TMD

The real cause of the temporomandibular disorder remains unclear. But the most likely cause could be the excessive strain/pressure on your jaw joints or the muscle groups that control actions such as swallowing, chewing, and speech. The strain may be a result of bruxism, or the habitual grinding or involuntary clenching of your teeth. Injury to your head, neck, or jaw can also lead to TMD. Jaw joint disk displacement and arthritis can also contribute to TMD pain. Cases such as painful health conditions (fibromyalgia) and irritable bowel syndrome may worsen TMD pain. Other factors that may put you at risk of developing chronic temporomandibular disorder include clinical, psychological, genetic, sensory, and nervous system.

Symptoms To Expect If You Have TMD

TMD symptoms range from myofascial pain – difficulties controlling jaw functions and the muscles of the neck and shoulders – to dislocated jaw, displaced disc, condyle injuries, and, in rare cases, degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis in the jaws. The most common symptom of TMD is discomfort on either side of your face. Signs of TMD range from jaw soreness to facial pain. The connective tissues covering the muscles that control the jaw can become sensitive. If you find yourself placing your fingertips on your jaw muscle for relief, you may be dealing with TMD. Some patients report that the soreness of their jaw is worse in the morning or late afternoon.

Another symptom to expect if you have TMD is the clicking or popping of your jaw. This is not uncommon, as your jaw may be misaligned and you may exacerbate the problem when you eat. Additionally, you may not be able to open your mouth as wide as you used to. Perhaps your teeth do not fit together well. Other common symptoms include headaches, pains radiating from the jaws, shifting teeth, earaches, hearing problems, and dizziness. You may have discomfort that radiates beyond your jaw to behind your eyes, shoulder, back, neck, or somewhere else on your face.

The Best Treatments For TMD

Thankfully, most people who experience TMD usually deal with mild, temporary, and occasional symptoms that go away with little or no treatment. For those with severe symptoms, we’ll use state-of-the-art tools and techniques, including TMJ X-rays, MRI, tomography, etc., to evaluate the main cause of the condition and offer effective treatment options. We’ll diffuse the pressure on the maxillofacial muscles and remedy the condition using either conservative treatments or surgical procedures.

Most times, we recommend just simple, conservative treatments which entail the use of devices such as splints, physical therapy, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Self-care practices like eating soft foods, using heat or ice packs, and avoiding extreme jaw movements can also promote quick recovery. Reach out to us today to get highly effective treatment options for your TMJ problems. It is important for you to make this appointment so we can accurately diagnose any dental issues you may have and help you take the next step toward wellness.

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