What is TMJ and How is It Treated?

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is a disorder, of which there are many, that results in pain and other symptoms due to the poor functioning of the temporomandibular joint. The TMJ is what connects the jaw bone to the skull. This disorder can lead to difficulty chewing, tooth decay and damage, headaches, neck pain or stiffness, and even depression.

Genetics, jaw injury, and arthritis are some causes of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The symptoms will vary depending on the person and where the problem is in the mouth. Symptoms include pain in jaw joints, ear pain, and facial muscle spasms; tooth grinding or clenching habits can result from this disorder.

The first step for someone suffering from TMJ is getting an accurate diagnosis to help determine the course of treatment. This includes a physical examination and sometimes X-rays and CT scans. Once your doctor diagnoses the cause, they can help you devise a treatment plan. Some of the TMJ disorders treatments include

Medication

Your doctor may recommend medication to help with the pain or other symptoms. The most commonly used medications include:

Cervical Chiropractic Care

Cervical chiropractic care can be an effective treatment method for TMJ. By adjusting your neck and spine, your nerves will function better, improving your TMJ pain. This treatment is best used when the symptoms are mild or moderate and are not caused by arthritis or another condition.

Anti-inflammatories and Pain Relievers

Another treatment for TMJ is administering anti-inflammatories and pain relievers to patients. It helps their pain by breaking down the chemicals that cause inflammation in the body. Also, these medications do not have serious side effects.

Muscle Relaxants

Your doctor may recommend muscle relaxants to help prevent extreme jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and muscle spasms. However, taking your time when looking for a reputable doctor to help you with TMJ is essential. Professionals that specialize in TMJ treatment in Raleigh NC might suggest muscle relaxants depending on your overall health history, the cause of TMJ, symptoms that you are experiencing, and your age. To help with TMJ, you should make an appointment with a dentist to discuss any dental issues and symptoms you may be experiencing.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

This treatment involves using medications like amitriptyline to help patients with pain relief. If the medications fail, your doctor may choose to try another type of medication. The medications target nerve receptors in the brain to reduce TMJ pain. They are effective but have many side effects for some people. The biggest side effect is a neurological syndrome called anticholinergic syndrome, which causes dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and many others.

Injections

A course of injections for TMJ is usually recommended when other treatments fail. People with TMJ can get injections in the jaw joints or muscles surrounding the joint. It helps reduce pain and spasms in those areas. However, you should be careful when getting this treatment because it may cause more damage depending on where you receive the injection.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist can help strengthen and stretch the muscles to prevent or reduce pain in the jaw joints. This will also help you regain your head, neck, and mouth movement without experiencing pain associated with TMJ. These treatments are best done after an X-ray to see if there is cause for concern about arthritis or other issues before therapy.

Surgery

When physical therapy is ineffective, and the patient is experiencing severe pain, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Open jaw surgery helps patients with TMJ reduce their jaw pain and other symptoms. This type of surgery involves making a small incision in the mouth and then using special instruments to remove and replace the jaw.

Another type of surgery is an endoscopic treatment that involves making very small incisions in the mouth and then placing a tube through the mouth into the ear, providing direct access to the TMJ joint. Endoscopic treatments can be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on your preference and if you are having complications from your disorder.

Surgical procedures will vary from person to person depending on their specific needs. The surgeon can remove excess joints or other damaged tissues that may have caused the TMJ problem. If there is a crooked jaw, the surgeon can correct it with orthodontic treatment by using braces or screws in the jawbone to straighten it out.

The doctors will keep the relieving symptoms in mind while they are deciding on whether or not to go through surgery. If you need oral surgery, it is best to get a second opinion, even if your doctor recommends it.

Depending on the severity of your TMJ disorder, you may need to seek medical attention immediately. Some of the longer-term TMJ treatments can lead to other complications, so you will want to be sure that the treatment offered is best for you.