TMJ is a term that encompasses disorders of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles. It can cause pain, discomfort, and dysfunction, in the jaw joint and muscled surrounding the joint. It’s estimated that over 10 million Americans suffer from some form of TMJ, though the number could be much higher as many people go undiagnosed.

Many people who suffer from a form of TMJ do not seek medical help because the symptoms tend to come and go. This allows many people to manage their TMJ on their own, however over the counter pain medications or heat and ice packs don’t fix the problem, they merely mask the symptoms.

What are TMJ Disorders?

TMJ can vary between individuals. However, medical professionals and researchers do agree that TMJ covers three basic categories. These include myofascial pain, which covers pain or discomfort in the muscles that control jaw movement. Internal derangement of the joint indicates when there’s an injury to the condyle, a dislocated jaw, or a displaced disc. The third category is arthritis, which is a degenerative and inflammatory joint disorder that can have an effect on the temporomandibular joint.

When diagnosed with TMJ, someone can have one, two, or even all three of these conditions. There are also other problems that coincide with the joint disorders such as fibromyalgia, sleep disturbances, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Most people who suffer from TMJ have a mild case and are able to work with their dentists and medical doctors to establish a treatment plan that works for them.

Who is At Risk? Causes for Developing TMJ

There are certain risk factors that can make an individual more likely to develop TMJ. However, it’s important to understand that you can still develop the disorder without these risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to have TMJ.

Stress related habits such as clenching your jaw, biting your lip or other objects, grinding your teeth, or chewing items such as gum, ice, or taffy for long periods of time can all increase the likelihood that you may develop TMJ. There are some medical conditions that also increase risk of the joint disorder such as a misaligned jaw, teeth, or bite. Jaw or facial deformities can also lead to issues regarding you temporomandibular joint. Arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can affect your temporomandibular joint. An inflammation of the membrane lining your temporomandibular joint can also lead to TMJ. Injuries to the face or jaw such as fractures or dislocations can frequently result in issues later on as well.

Most people that are diagnosed with TMJ are between the ages of 30 and 50. It is also more common in women than men. Though there are many men who have been diagnosed with TMJ. Elderly patients can also be susceptible to TMJ if they have improperly fitted dentures.

Treatment Options for TMJ

Depending on the cause for your condition and the severity of your case, your treatment can vary. The ultimate goal when treating TMJ is to reduce the pain and increase the function of the jaw joint. Speak with a dentist such as Mark Levy DDS and he will help you determine the likely cause of your TMJ and get you started on a treatment plan that treats the actual problem with your temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscle tissue instead of just treating the symptoms.

Treatment options can include physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles around the joint, to stretches to help ease pain and relax the area. Your dentist may also recommend a dental splint to wear while you’re sleeping to help keep you from grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. If you are active in sports your treatment may include wearing a mouth guard to help protect your teeth and your jaw.

In many cases, simple lifestyle changes can help alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by TMJ. For example, maintaining proper posture, practicing stress reduction and relaxation techniques, along with eliminating any excessive chewing on non-food items as well as gum, taffy, and ice can reduce or even eliminate symptoms.

Some medications can be used to treat the symptoms of TMJ. Pain relievers during the day can help manage any pain or discomfort. Your dentist may prescribe a muscle relaxant or sedative at night so that your body is able to fully relax. Often times this can help reduce or eliminate night time jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

There are also outpatient procedures that could help remedy your TMJ. A procedure with which the joint is irrigated and debris is rinsed away has been shown to help some patients. In extreme cases your dentist may recommend surgery, however, this is often a last resort as there have been a significant number of cases where surgery has not been as helpful as hoped.

If you have any questions about the causes or treatment of TMJ, please contact Mark Levy DDS.