TMJ disorders can cause discomfort and pain. The symptoms vary from patient to patient, but they usually include headaches, earaches, jaw pain and tenderness, and neck and shoulder pain.
Seemingly disparate symptoms such as these are actually the result of strained and misaligned jaw joints. A TMJ doctor Houston TX can help relieve the discomfort with nonsurgical treatments and medications.
Finding a TMJ Specialist
When jaw pain or other symptoms of TMJ occur, it's important to seek treatment early. If left untreated, TMJ can cause chronic joint, face, and ear pain, as well as headaches. The most effective treatments are typically non-invasive and offer long-term relief.
Your TMJ specialist will evaluate the position and movement of your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) to determine what caused the condition. They may also use electromyography to measure muscle activity in your neck and jaw muscles to see if they are overworked.
If the problem is primarily caused by the way your teeth fit together (occlusion) your TMJ specialist may recommend orthognathic surgery to correct it. This will reposition the upper and lower jaws to establish a stable occlusion. Alternatively, they may use arthroscopic arthroplasty to remove adhesions and scar tissue to increase joint mobility. This is similar to arthroscopic surgery performed on knees and other joints.
TMJ Examination
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw to the skull on either side. When it is misaligned, chewing and speaking become difficult, and pain radiates into the neck, head, shoulders, back, and even the ear. Symptoms include headaches, earaches, jaw clicking or popping, teeth grinding (bruxism), and facial tenderness.
Initially, your TMJ doctor Houston TX may recommend resting the jaw, eating soft foods, applying heat or ice packs, and possibly stress management counseling to relieve symptoms. However, these methods only provide temporary relief and do not treat the underlying cause of the problem, which is bite alignment.
To find the source of your TMJ pain, your doctor will perform a noninvasive digital exam in a comfortable setting. They will listen to the noises your jaw makes as you open and close it, observe its range of motion, and press on the surrounding tissues for signs of inflammation or tenderness. They will also take a digital X-ray and may order other diagnostic imaging tests.
TMJ Orthotics
A neuromuscular orthotic appliance repositions your jaw into a healthy position which will help relax the muscles and balance the temporomandibular joint. It is similar to a mouth guard or nightguard that you can buy from the store and online but it is custom designed and crafted by a TMJ Specialist. This device is worn full time as it works to improve jaw alignment and muscle integrity.
The temporomandibular joint connects your lower jaw to the cranium (skull) and allows you to chew and talk. The problem is that a misaligned joint can cause headaches, ear pain, ringing in the ears, neck pain, shoulder/back pain and sleep apnea. A TMJ Specialist can relieve these symptoms by relocating your jaw into a healthy position with an acrylic platform to bite against, or splint. The splint takes pressure off the joint, balances the temporomandibular joint and muscles, and improves your posture. Consistent 24/7 wear of this appliance will eventually create changes in your musculature and posture which will achieve a permanent cure.
TMJ Treatment
Once the diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan can be designed. This will often include an oral appliance such as a stabilization or night guard to relieve pressure on the jaw joints. Physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the jaw muscles may also be recommended. Corticosteroid injections into the joint can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Occasionally, muscle relaxers or botulinum toxin type A (Botox) are used to alleviate pain.
The temporomandibular joint is prone to injury from clenching or grinding of teeth, malocclusion problems, and accidents. These injuries can strain the cartilage disk that acts as the cushion of the joint or damage the muscle ligaments that support it. The resulting symptoms are clicking, popping or grating sounds when the jaw is opened and closed, or trouble opening or closing the mouth wide.
The first step in diagnosing TMJ involves a detailed patient history. This includes information about past injuries, dental and medical histories, stressors, habits like biting or tearing off clothing tags with the teeth, and a list of medications the patient is taking.
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