Know Your TMJ Disorders

Know Your TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders include a variety of conditions that cause pain or disorder in the jaw joint (TMJ). TMJ is the joint located on either side of your skull and connecting the lower jaw (mandible) with the temporal bone of your skull.

Lower jaw has rounded ends (condyles) are linked to the temporal bone of the skull and will move out when you talk or chew food. The surface of condyle and the socket on the temporal bone covered with cartilage tissue (cartilage) and separated by a small disc that will reduce collisions and keep the movement remains smooth. The muscles around your jaw to keep this connection remains stable in his position.

Most cases can be resolved with the efforts of the patient himself or without surgery. But, some more severe cases require more severe action by a dentist or oral surgeon.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of TMJ disorder are:

• Pain or disruption that was felt in the jaw

• Pain around ear

• Difficulty swallowing or discomfort when swallowing

• Pain around the face

• clicking sound or feeling of not smooth when chew or open your mouth.

• The jaw is locked, so that the mouth is opened or closed is difficult.

• Headache

• A bite that does not fit

• The teeth do not experience the same attachment because there is some teeth in contact prematurely (earlier than the other)

Cause

Some cases of TMJ traced through the trauma of having experienced the jaw, degeneration of the tissues around the jaw joint, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory.

Most cases of TMJ disorder, the cause is unclear. Some experts believe the response to stress and anxiety are the main things that contribute to the occurrence of TMJ disorders.

If you frequently little moving your jaw when stressed, feeling ill or concentrate, muscles of the TMJ will remain in a state of contraction. This makes the mouth muscles become involved disturbed.

Another habit that may also interfere with the condition of the jaw muscles are often chewed on a pen or chewing gum.

The position of the head, neck and shoulders are not good, for example, leaned forward while at the computer or reading while lying down, will put pressure on the ideal that is not muscular and skeletal body even though not realize is closely related to the jaw muscles and jaw joints.

Treatment

Without surgery

Some cases of TMJ disorders will end with the usual care that may not even need a presence next to your dentist. Among them:

• Changing bad habits. Your dentist will only remind you to pay more attention to the habits of everyday. For example moving dental habits, brutish, or biting other objects. This habit should be replaced with good habits like letting your mouth muscles in rilex condition with upper and lower teeth are not too tight, the tongue touches the palate and are right behind your upper teeth.

• Reducing the jaw muscle fatigue. Your dentist will ask you not open your mouth too wide on various occasions. For example when the laughs are not excessive.

• Stretching and massage. Your dentist will provide training how to stretch or massage your jaw muscles. In addition also may be given instructions on how to position the head, neck and right shoulder in performing daily activities.

• Apply heat or cold. By compress both sides of your face either with hot or cold compresses will help relax the jaw muscles.

• anti-inflammatory drugs. To reduce inflammation (inflammation) and pain, your dentist may recommend aspirin or other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, eg ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.)

• Bite plate. If you experience TMJ abnormalities on chewing position, a bite plate (bite guide) will be given. Biteplate mounted on the maxillary teeth to conform with the mandible. By chewing the correct position of course would help reduce pressure on the structure of joints.

• The use night guard. This tool is useful to overcome the habit of bruxism at night.

• Cognitive therapy. If your TMJ disorder due to stress or anxiety, your dentist will recommend to see a psychiatrist to cope.

Advanced Care

If non-surgical treatments failed to reduce symptoms of TMJ disorder, your dentist will recommend the following treatment:

• Dental care. Your dentist will improve the bite by balancing the surface of your teeth. How can the replace the missing tooth or dates, repair patches or a crown.

• Drug corticosteroids. For pain and inflammation in the joints, corticosteroid drug will be injected into the joints.

• arthrocentesis. This procedure is done by injecting fluid into the joints to remove dirt or residual inflammation that interfere with the jaw.

• Surgery. If any treatment does not work, your dentist will refer you to a specialist dentist oral surgery.

Develop some of the following techniques to reduce TMJ disorders.

• Breathe deeply. Most adults breathe with his chest. Meanwhile, most children with diaphragmatic breathing. The diaphragm is a thin layer that separates the chest to your stomach. This breathing technique will help you be more relaxed.

• meditation

• Music, art therapy

• Yoga