The Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ, is the location around your jaw joints. This location includes the ligaments and muscles present around the jaw joints.
The dysfunction of this TMJ directly refers to the fact that there is tenderness in the ligaments and muscles. It can be caused because of many reasons.
You require the immediate attention of an orthodontist when you notice some tenderness in the TMJ region. If you are located in Moore, OK, then Elassal Orthodontics is your best solution.
You can find the best orthodontist in Moore, OK, who can offer ideal ways of handling many issues related to your jaw joints and teeth. Check their webpage to get all the required information about their working principle.
TMJ Dysfunction
Many reasons, such as can cause TMJ dysfunction,
- Grinding of teeth
- Injuries to jaws
- Daily wear and tear
- Arthritis
TMJ dysfunction can cause some secondary issues such as headaches, pain in the jaw, problems while opening or closing the mouth, and so on.
Hence, TMJ dysfunction is also classified into three types, namely,
- Jaw joint disorder
- Headaches from TMJ dysfunction
- Chewing muscle disorders
Many things can worsen the TMJ dysfunction condition. When you are suffering from headaches, migraine, constant pain in the jaws, earaches, tinnitus, and difficulty while closing or opening your mouth, you need the immediate attention of your orthodontist.
Studies have proven that some important factors can worsen TMJ dysfunction, such as,
- Constant usage of teeth for tearing open some bags of cloth tags
- Sleeping in a poor posture can put more pressure on facial muscles, neck, and shoulder
- The habit of constantly chewing on something hard like a pencil or pen and so on
- Constant chewing of gums or chewing ice cubes
- Clenching or grinding teeth
- Stressing the jaws by taking big food bites
- Sleeping facing any one particular position because of lying on the stomach
Visiting the Orthodontist
It would help if you got medical attention when you notice persistent tenderness or pain in your jaws. It would help if you visited the orthodontist whenever you feel pain while opening or closing your mouth.
Tests and Diagnosis for Detecting TMJ Dysfunction
When you visit your orthodontist complaining about pain in your jaws, they will first observe the motion of your jaws when you open and close your mouth, as they suggest. They will gently put pressure on your jaws to understand the pain’s origin and the severity of the condition. Finally, they move their fingers around your jaws by applying constant pressure here and there to check the extension of the pain around your jaw.
Once they are done with a physical diagnosis, they suggest you get some tests such as CT scans, X-rays of the dental region, TMJ arthroscopy, MRI, and other such tests. Once the reports are out, they suggest the right treatment plan to handle the issue.
Medications
The commonly suggested medications for treating TMJ dysfunction include,
- Antidepressants
- Acetaminophen or other such painkillers
- Muscle relaxers
- Naproxen and ibuprofen, and other such Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
The severity of the TMJ dysfunction will let the orthodontists decide on the right course of treatment, which can be surgical or non-surgical. However, the treatment will ensure that the TMJ dysfunction problem is handled from the root.