Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

Disorders of the temporomandibular joint(s) can cause pain which usually occurs in or around the ears of lower jaw. The TMJ hinges the lower jaw or mandible to the skull and is responsible for the ability to chew or talk. TMJ disorders can be caused by different types of problems such as injury (such as a blow to the fact), arthritis, or jaw muscle fatigue from habitually clenching or grinding teeth. Habitual clenching or grinding of teeth, a condition called “bruxism” can cuase pain in the joints, jaw muscles, and the teeth involved. Bruxism is often due to life “stress”, family history of bruxism, and poor bite alignment. Sometimes, muscles around the TMJ used for chewing can go into spasm, causing head and neck pain and difficulty opening the mouth normally. These muscle spasms are aggravated by chewing or by stress, which cause the patients to clench their teeth and further tighten these muscles. Temporary TMJ pain can also result from recent dental work or by the trauma of extracting impacted wisdom teeth.

Treatment of temporo-mandibular joint paid usually involves oral anti-inflammatory over the counter (OTC) drugs like ibuprofen. Other measures include warn moist compresses to relax the joint areas, stress reduction, and/or eating soft foods that do not require much chewing. If bruxism is diagnosed by a dentist, a bite appliance, i.e. night guard, may be recommended that is worn during the night to protect the teeth. However, this bite appliance is used mainly to protect the teeth and may not help with joint pain. For more serious cases of joint pain, a referral to a TMJ specialist may be necessary to determine further treatment.