What is Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)?

What is Temporomandibular Disorder? (TMD)

From the American Dental Association

Those of you who may be suffering from a lock jaw, or soreness, we want you to read this article on what temporomandibular disorder is so that you can better understand what causes your symptoms and what causes it.

Signs and Symptoms

Temporomandibular disorders can have many different signs and symptoms that range in severity. Some patients may experience symptoms without any apparent loss of function. Specific symptoms may include:

• Pain in or around the ear
• Tender jaw muscles
• Clicking or popping noises in the jaw
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
• Pain when yawning or chewing
• Jaw joints that feel as if they are “locked,” “stuck” or they “go out”
• Headaches

How the jaw joints and muscles work:

The joints and muscles and on each side of your aw helps open and close the mouth. These joints move in many different directions. They allow you to chew, talk, and swallow.

The two temporomandibular joints are among the most complex joints in the body. They work together in a delicate balance with muscles, ligaments, cartilage and your jaw bones. When a problem prevents these parts from working together properly, pain may result.

What causes TMD?

Several conditions may be associated with TMD. This often makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause of a particular case of TMD. Related conditions may include:

• Injuries to the jaw or head
• Diseases of the muscles or joints, such as arthritis
• Bite problems (teeth don’t fit together properly)
• Stress

To determine what’s best to treat your condition, a thorough evaluation is recommended. Your dentist may check the joints and muscles for tenderness, clicking, popping or difficulty moving. Your complete medical history may be reviewed, so it is important to keep your dental office up-to-date. Your dentist may take x-rays and may make a model of your teeth to see how your bite fits together. Your dentist may also request specialized x-rays for the TM joints.

Treatment Options

There are several ways TMD may be treated. Your general dentist may recommend treatment, or he or she may refer you to a physician or dentist specialist.

Treatment may involve a series of steps. The step-by-step plan allows you to try simple treatment before moving on to more involved treatment. The National Institute of Dental and Crainiofacial Research has recommended a “less is often best” approach in treating TMJ disorders.

The following self-care practices may be recommended:

• Eating softer foods
• Avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails
• Modifying the pain with heat packs
• Practicing relaxation techniques to control jaw tension, such as meditation or biofeedback

If necessary for your symptoms, the following treatments may be advised:

• Exercise to strengthen your jaw muscles
• Medications prescribed by your dentist, for example, muscle relaxants, analgesics, anti-anxiety drugs, or anti-inflammatory medications
• A night guard or bite plate to decrease clenching or grinding teeth

In some cases, your dentist may recommend fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth. Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended. Your dentist can suggest the most appropriate therapy based on the suspected cause.

Hopefully now you can answer the question of what temporomandibular disorder is. If you may have any other concerns or questions, please feel free and ask us.