TMD, or Temporomndibular Disorders occurs when you experience pain in the area of your ear, jaw or muscles on the side of your face with possibly clicking or popping sounds or restricted jaw movement. TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint — or jaw joint — itself.
TMD describes a group of conditions characterized by pain and dysfunction of the TMJ and/or the muscles surrounding it. It’s not always so easy to figure out exactly what’s causing these symptoms, but some issues resolve themselves with the help of some remedies we can recommend for you to do at home. Some issues may be resolved with prescription muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications for a short time.
The two TMJs that connect your lower jaw, the mandible, to the temporal bone of the skull on either side, are actually very complex joints that allow movement in three dimensions. The lower jaw and temporal bone fit together as a ball and socket, with a cushioning disk in between. Large pairs of muscles in the cheeks and temples move the lower jaw. If you are in pain, or are having difficulty opening or closing your jaw, we will do a thorough examination to try to pinpoint the problem area and suggest appropriate remedies.
As with any other joint, the TMJ can be subject to issues and problems including inflammation, sore muscles, strained tendons and ligaments, and disk problems. It can also be influenced by genes and gender (women appear to be more prone to it), and age. Physical and psychological stress can also be a factor. In some cases, jaw pain may be related to a more widespread, pain-inducing medical condition such as fibromyalgia.
Some people with TMD hear a clicking, popping or grating sound coming from the TMJ when opening or closing the mouth. This is usually caused by a shifting of the disk inside the joint. Someone standing next to you might even be able to hear it. Clicking by itself is actually not a significant symptom because one third of all people have jaw joints that click, studies show. However, if the clicking is accompanied by pain or limited jaw function — the jaw getting “stuck” in an open or closed position, for example — this would indicate TMD.
Pain that’s actually coming from one or both jaw joints technically would be described as arthritis (“arth” – joint; “itis” – inflammation) of the TMJ. When we look at radiographs (x-ray pictures) we find that some people have arthritic-looking TMJs but no symptoms of pain or dysfunction; others have significant symptoms of pain and dysfunction but their joints look normal on radiographs. There is no cure for arthritis anywhere in the body, but medication can sometimes help relieve arthritic symptoms.
This can be felt in the cheeks (masseter muscles) and temples (temporalis muscles), where the two big pairs of jaw-closing muscles are located. If you feel soreness and stiffness upon waking up in the morning, it’s often related to habits such as clenching and/or grinding the teeth at night.
If you have this type of nocturnal habit, we can have a nightguard custom-made for you that should be very helpful in decreasing the force applied to your teeth, which will in turn allow your muscles to relax and relieve pressure on your jaw joints. Other self-care remedies are discussed below (please see Relieving the Pain).
Once we examine you, we will come up with a strategy for treating your condition and managing your pain. Sometimes a temporary change to a softer diet can reduce stress on the muscles and joints. Ice and/or moist heat can help relieve soreness and inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants can also provide relief. Sometimes physical therapy can also help with TMD and neck pain.
Persistent TMD cases may require more complex forms of treatment, which might include orthodontics, dental restorations to open up the bite or nightguard therapy. In very rare instances, we can make referrals to specialists to examine an arthritic joint for further treatment such as cortisone injections or surgical intervention. The first step is an examination here at our dental office. We don’t want you to be in pain, so please come in and see us.
