Adult Dentistry

Treatment of TMJ Pain

TMJ Treatment Long Island The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the small joint located in front of your ear where your skull and lower jaw meet. The TMJ moves every time you talk, yawn, chew or swallow, making it one of the most frequently used joints in your body. Combining a hinge action with a sliding action also makes it one of the most complex joints in the body.

If you place your fingers in front of your ears, on the triangular structure in the front of the ear, you can feel the joints on the left and right side of your head. Then move your finger slightly forward and press firmly while you open and close your jaw. The motion you feel is the TMJ joint.

Because of its complexity, disorders of the TMJ joint are common, affecting between 5 and 15 percent of the US population. These disorders can occur as a result of misalignment of the disk, cartilage damage from arthritis, poor oral habits, missing teeth, injury or overuse. The cause may be unknown in some patients. TMJ disorders are most common in women between the ages of 30 and 50, and are also more likely to occur in patients with poor oral habits such as jaw clenching or teeth grinding.

Patients with TMJ disorders often experience:

Pain and tenderness in the jaw
Difficulty chewing
Aches and pains in the face
Pain around the ear
Headache

Locking of the jaw
Uneven bite
Clicking sound when opening the jaw

These symptoms can vary in intensity from mildly noticeable to severely debilitating. Some patients may experience other symptoms as well from this condition. Pain is the defining characteristic of TMJ disorders, and is usually required for a proper diagnosis. Your dentist can diagnose this condition by performing an X-ray or CT scan to thoroughly examine the bones of the joint.

Treatment

Treatment of TMJ disorders focuses on relieving pain and correcting any joint damage. Our dentists can offer various ways to treat pain associated with TMJ disorders, including pharmacological agents, appliance therapy, diet and modification of behavior and posture. In some situations, surgical treatment may be required. Ask our dentists which treatment or combination of therapies is best for you.

Medication for TMJ pain may include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Tricyclic antidepressants

Muscle relaxants
Corticosteroids
Botulism toxin (Botox)

TMJ disorders with more severe pain may require more advanced treatment, such as a bite guard or cognitive therapy for patients with stress or anxiety over their symptoms. Surgery may be required for cases where joint damage has occurred, and can include replacing missing teeth, arthrocentesis to remove fluid from the joint or a procedure to remove a damaged disk from the joint.

There are also several home remedies that patients can use to help relieve the symptoms of TMJ disorders, including regularly stretching and massaging the jaw, maintaining a proper resting position for the jaw and avoiding overuse of the jaw muscles by cutting food into smaller pieces and avoiding especially sticky foods.

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Adult Dentistry

Treatment of TMJ Pain

Treatment

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