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What IS TMJ JOINT?
The temporomandibular joints, also known as the TMJ, are the two joints that connect your lower jaw to the skull.
Your TMJs are located on both sides of your face, just in front of your ears. More specifically, these joints slide and rotate in front of each ear, and consist of the lower jaw and temporal bone of the skull.
The TMJs are amongst the most complex joints in the body. These joints along with several muscles allow the lower jaw to move up and down, side to side and forward and back. When the joints, ligaments and muscles are properly aligned, actions such as chewing, talking, yawning and swallowing take place. However, when these structures are not aligned or synchronized in movements, it will result in pain and/or impaired function, leading to temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
TMJ TREATMENT
In this era of modern medicine, a wide variety of TMJ treatment options are available all around the world. Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on:
– How old you are
– Your overall health and medical history
– How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures or therapies
– How long the condition is expected to last
– Your comfort and preference
Treatment options may includes:
1. SELF-CARE
– Rest the muscles and joints by eating soft foods and avoiding clenching or grinding of teeth. Practice the rest jaw position of : “Lips Together Teeth Apart”.
– Avoid opening your mouth too wide, particularly during yawning and dental procedures.
– Apply cold for severe pain for 10 mins; this is for new injuries of less than 72 hrs.
– Apply moist heat using a wet hot towel for 20 mins to promote healing by increasing the blood flow to the injured area. This is for pain lasting longer than 72 hrs.
– Massage the jaw and muscles above the ear to help with muscle relaxation. Practice stress reduction and eat well as good nutrition promoted joint and muscle healing.
2. MEDICATION
– Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories are often prescribed by doctors to relieve TMJ pain, for eg Flexon MR.
– Tricyclic antidepressants in low doses are sometimes used for pain relief, bruxism control and sleeplessness.
– Muscle relaxants are used for a few days or weeks to relieve pain caused by muscle spasms
3. THERAPIES
– Oral splints or mouth guards inserted over teeth have been beneficial to people with jaw pain.
– Physical therapy along with exercises is done to stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles
– Counseling and education can help you understand the factors and behavior that may aggravate your pain, so you can avoid them. Examples include teeth clenching, leaning on your chin and biting finger nails
4. SURGICAL OR OTHER PROCEDURES
– Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive procedure that involves insertion of small needles into the joint so that fluid can can be irrigated to remove debris.
– Corticosteroid injections into the jaw muscles may relieve pain in some people.
– TMJ arthroscopy can be effective for treating various types of TMDs. A small thin tube (cannula) is placed into the joint space, an arthroscope is inserted and small surgical instruments are used for surgery.
– Modified condylotomy involves surgery on the lower jaw only. It may be helpful for treatment of pain and if jaw locking is experienced.
– Open joint surgery is suggested if the pain does not resolve with conservation treatments and it is caused by a structural problem in the joint. However, this treatment involves more risks than other procedures, hence the pros and cons must be discussed with the doctor thoroughly.
