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Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), Diagnosis, treatment, Symptoms and causes

Facts about Temporomandibular (TMJ) Syndrome

By Sarfraz HussainPublished 3 years ago 10 min read
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Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Anatomy and Disc Displacement Animation
  • A dentate joint is a joint that connects your chin to your skull. When this joint is injured or damaged, it can lead to a local pain disorder known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome.
  • Causes of TMJ syndrome include damage to teeth or jaws, crooked teeth, jaw grinding, poor posture, stress, arthritis, and chewing gum.

Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome are

  • pain in the joint of the jaw,
    • chin snaps and popping,
    • earache / earache,
    • popping sounds in the ears,
    • headaches,
    • stiff or sore jaw muscles,
    • pain in the temple, or
    • lock cutting.
    • Temporomandibular (TMJ) syndrome often responds to home care products, including ice packs for articulated, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), avoiding chewing gum, massage or gentle stretching of the jaw and neck, and reducing stress.
    • When home care doesn’t work, treatment for TMJ syndrome includes dental care, Botox injections, physical therapy, prescription medications, and, in severe cases, surgery.
    • The prognosis for TMJ syndrome is generally good because the disorder can usually be treated with self-care and home care.

    What is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome?

    TMJ disorders - Symptoms and causes

    Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) syndrome is a disorder of the muscles and nerves of the jaws caused by injury or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. The dental joint is the connection between the jawbone and the skull. Injured or inflamed thinking joints cause pain with chewing, clicking, blinking, and puncture of the jaws; swelling of the sides of the face; inflammation of the nervous system; headaches, including migraines; tooth grinding (bruxism); Eustachian tube malfunction; and sometimes a temporary joint dislocation. The temporomandibular joint syndrome is also known as a temporomandibular joint disorder.

    What are the risk factors for TMJ syndrome?

    There are several risk factors for TMJ syndrome:

    • Poor posture in the neck and upper rooms can lead to neck stiffness and jaw muscle dysfunction.
    • Stress can increase muscle tension and the chin.
    • Women 18-44 years of age have increased their risk.
    • Patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis have an increased risk.
    • People with jaw trauma or poorly placed teeth are at increased risk.
    • People with a genetic predisposition to pain sensitivity and increased stress reactions may be more sensitive.

    What causes TMJ syndrome?

    The causes of TMJ syndrome are not fully understood. Several factors affect the muscle density and dysfunction that characterize this condition. It is not clear whether some of these causes directly cause TMJ syndrome or if they are the result of the disorder. The reasons may be

    • blurring or deformity of the teeth or jaws,
    • tooth grinding (brusism),
    • bad posture,
    • stress or anxiety
    • arthritis and other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders,
    • orthodontic braces and
    • excessive chewing gum bite.

    What are the symptoms and signs of TMJ symptoms?

    The main symptom of TMJ syndrome is pain in the jaw joint. This joint is located just in front of the ear, and the pain associated with TMJ syndrome can include the face, eye, forehead, ear, or neck. The signs and symptoms of TMJ symptoms are as follows:

    • Pain or tenderness in the jaw, especially in the joint area
    • Length / click from the chin
    • Pain that feels like a toothache
    • Ear pain or sounds cracking in the ears
    • Calling or wearing ear sounds (tinnitus) or feeling fullness in the ears
    • Headache, including migraine
    • Blurred vision
    • Tight, stiff or sore jaw or neck muscles
    • Muscle cramps in the chin
    • Facial pain, mouth pain, chin pain, cheek pain or chin numbness or tingling
    • Pain in the base of the tongue
    • Pain, swelling, or a lump in the temple area
    • Difficulty chewing
    • Shoulder pain
    • The chin locks or sits (usually after a general yawn) called a lockjaw
    • Dizziness or lightheartedness

    How do healthcare professionals diagnose TMJ syndrome?

    The doctor diagnoses TMJ syndrome by taking the patient’s medical history and performing a physical exam to determine the cause of the symptoms. There is no specific test for diagnosing TMJ syndrome. The doctor may refer the patient to an oral and maxillofacial specialist, an otolaryngologist (also called an ear, nose and throat doctor, or an ENT specialist) or a dentist who specializes in jaw disorders to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes a temporary joint magnetic resonance imaging can be ordered to detect damage to the articular cartilage of the jaw and rule out other medical problems.

    A condition that may have similar symptoms to TMJ syndrome is trigeminal neuralgia. The three-stage nerve produces nerve impulses in the temporomandibular joints, and when irritated, it can also cause facial pain. Other causes of tumor or neck pain include swollen lymph nodes (swollen glands), giant cell arteritis, salivary gland disease, sore throat, poorly fitting dentures or dental belts.

    What is the treatment for TMJ syndrome ? Are there any home remedies that offer TMJ pain relief?

    Many symptoms of TMJ symptoms may respond well to home or stress disorder and relaxation techniques. The following home remedies can be of some relief:

    • Ice or cold packs in the joint area
    • Overdose medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) and other painkillers, including aspirin (ecotrine) and acetaminophen (tylenol)
    • Eating soft foods and avoiding chewing gum
    • Treatment or gentle self-confidence of the jaw and neck muscles (appropriate portions may be recommended by your doctor or physiotherapist.)
    • Relaxation techniques and stress management and reduction
    • Some sedative essential oils (such as lavender, chamomile, sweet maize ramie, and clary sage) can provide temporary relief from pain and discomfort in TMJ.

    When home care is not effective, treatment methods may be necessary. Most of these therapies and remedies do not cure TMJ, but they can provide temporary and even long-term relief from pain symptoms. These include the following:

  • A dental number (occlusal pelvis or stabilization lesion or bite), which is a dental treatment placed in the mouth that keeps the teeth even and prevents the teeth from grinding. This resembles a nozzle guard and is usually prescribed and installed by a chin specialist.
  • Botox can be used to relax the jaw muscles. However, this is not currently FDA-approved TMJ syndrome.
  • Physical therapy, where jaw exercises can strengthen muscles, improves flexibility and movement.
  • In conditions where medical marijuana is legal, it can be prescribed to relieve severe TMJ pain.
  • Management of biological behavior (biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)) can help reduce the intensity of pain.
  • Trigger point acupuncture can sometimes be helpful.
  • In severe cases, surgery on the jaw or dental surgery may be necessary.TMJ arthroscopy or arthritis is the minimal non-coagulation usually performed in outpatient care. The return time for this procedure is about a week.
  • Sometimes a joint replacement is needed. This usually requires several days in the hospital, and the recovery time for surgery is four to six weeks.
  • The following prescription drugs can be used to treat TMJ: Muscle spasms: metaxalone (Skelaxin), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs: nabumetone (Relafen), meloxicam (Mobic), celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • Steroid injection: beclomethasone (Qvar)
  • Tricyclic antidepressants: nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) and desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Norfranil, Tipramine, Tofranil)
  • Benzodiazepines: diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (clonopine), alprazolam (Xanax)
  • Sleep medication: doxepin (Silenor)
  • Medicines for nerve pain: gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), levetiracetam (Keppra), pregabalin (Lyrica)
  • Opiate painkillers hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone, and acetaminophen (Percocet)
  • What kind of doctors are treated with TMJ?

    The primary care provider (PCP) may first diagnose a TMJ, such as a family nurse, internal physician, or pediatrician. Your doctor may refer you to an oral and hepatic specialist, an otolaryngologist (also called an ear, nose, and throat doctor or ENT specialist), or a dentist who specializes in jaw disorders (prosthodontist, also called a prosthetic dentist). You can also see a pain medication specialist if your TMJ pain is severe.

    What is the prognosis for TMJ syndrome?

    The prognosis for TMJ syndrome is generally good. There are several causes for TMJ syndrome, so the outlook depends on the cause, if known. Most people are able to manage the discomfort of self-care and home remedies.

    Complications of long-term TMJ syndrome include chronic facial pain or chronic headache. In severe situations where the pain is chronic or associated with other inflammatory disorders, long-term treatment may be necessary.

    Is it possible to prevent TMJ syndrome?

    Symptoms of TMJ symptoms are usually episodic and related to stress and lifestyle.

    Prevention of TMJ symptoms can often be achieved by using self-care at home, such as

    • eating soft foods;
    • avoiding chewing gum;
    • maintaining proper posture;
    • training in tension and relaxation techniques;
    • using dental flossing devices as recommended by the jaw care staff;
    • using appropriate safety devices to prevent jaw fractures and displacement during exercise, work, or sports.

    Natural TMJ treatment

    TMJ syndrome is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint, a structure that connects your chin to the side of the skull. Also known as TMD or TMJ, the condition can cause pain to radiate inside the face, chin, and neck. Frequent swelling of the bite or yawning, TMJ syndrome can also trigger jaw stiffness or painful snaps in the jaw. In some cases, TMJ syndrome also changes the way your upper and lower teeth fit together.

    TMJ syndrome is typically caused by tooth grinding, stress, and behavioral factors such as excessive chewing gum compression. Arthritis and trauma to the jaw can also lead to TMJ syndrome.

    Along with jaw tenderness, stiffness, and clicking or popping, TMJ symptoms include ear and neck pain, headaches, and difficulty opening the mouth completely.

    Natural treatment for TMJ

    To date, there is no scientific support for the claim that all natural medicines can treat TMJ. Here are three popular natural approaches:

    1) Acupuncture

    By inserting thin needles at specific points in your body, acupuncture practitioners seek to stimulate the flow of energy throughout your system. Studies show that ancient Chinese treatment can promote the release of endorphins, which are brain chemicals known to relieve pain.

    In TMJ syndrome, acupuncturists can insert needles around the ear and chin, as well as near the elbows, knees, big toe, and other areas.

    Although the number of acupunctures required to treat TMJ may vary from patient to patient (depending on factors such as the severity of symptoms), the results can be of considerable duration. For example, in a Swedish study published in 2008, the researchers found that the majority of TMJ patients who had received acupuncture 18 to 20 years earlier suffered from a continuous improvement in their symptoms.

    2) Biofeedback

    Biofeedback training allows you to learn to manage muscle tension and other body processes that are usually unintentional (such as heart rate and breathing). Particularly useful in the treatment of stress-related diseases, biofeedback can teach TMJ patients unstoppably their jaw muscles. By keeping your jaw muscles relaxed, you can eventually close the TMJ pain.

    There are several biofeedbacks, but electromyography (EMG) techniques are used specifically to measure muscle tension. In a 2006 study, TMJ patients who had six weeks of EMG biofeedback sessions had significantly reduced pain levels and fewer doctor visits than those who received only dental care for the disorder.

    3) Massage therapy

    Regular visits to massage therapists can relieve muscle tension in the jaw and help reduce the overall stress that causes TMJ pain. Performing a simple self-breathing can also go a long way in soothing tenderness. A 2007 study found that massage (along with hot and cold treatments) provided the greatest pain relief among commonly practiced self-care goals for TMJ treatment.

    When you experience TMJ-related pain, massage your jaw muscles in small, circular motions for at least two or three minutes.

    For added comfort, try massaging with a wet, hot washcloth.

    Using natural remedies for TMJ

    Due to limitless research, it is too early to recommend a natural remedy to TMJ. It is also important to note that caring for the condition itself and avoiding or delaying serious treatment can have serious consequences. If you are considering any alternative medicine, be sure to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor first.

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    About the Creator

    Sarfraz Hussain

    I am a professional journalist and I work as a writer and reporter in a national newspaper. The purpose of my life is to help people. Useful Tips on Health Care to Improve the Lives of an Ordinary Man.

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