Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD): Symptoms and Treatment

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Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

• If you experience pain in your ear and feel like
  chewing and grinding constantly, then you are
  probably affected by TMJ (temporomandibular
  joint) disorder. The temporomandibular joint
  (TMJ) is the part of body that is directly in
  front of the ear canal on both sides of the head
  where the upper jaw and lower jaw join. The TMJ
  consists of many moving parts, which make scope
  for the upper jaw to close on the lower jaw. This
  joint is a usual sliding ball and socket joint,
  which has a disc in between the ball and the
  socket. This joint is functional when we move the
  jaw, bite or chew something, talk, or yawn. It is
  one of the most frequently used joints in the
  human body. TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is
  the term that covers acute or chronic swelling of
  the temporomandibular joint and muscles
  surrounding it.

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Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)
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• The dysfunction that happens as a result of this
  condition may lead to a lot of pain and
  impairment. The exact cause of this condition is
  not known however, it is believed to have
  multi-factorial causes. These causes include
  overactivity of the jaw muscles, increased
  sensitivity of muscles to pain, wear and tear of
  the joint, or injury to the jaw. Since the
  disorder is beyond the demarcation of any one
  discipline of medicine in particular,
  like dentistry, neurology, physical therapy, and
  psychology, there are a number of different
  treatment approaches for this condition.

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Symptoms

• TMJ disorders can be grouped together to form a
  set of complex dysfunctions that are associated
  with the jaw joint. The common symptoms of TMJ
  disorder are
• Most of the patients with TMD go through ear
  pains, without any visible sign of infection. The
  ear pain is generally felt in the front or below
  the ear. An ear infection can be distinguished
  clearly from a TMD, since there is hearing loss
  or ear discharge in case of an ear infection.
• Most of the patients also grind and clench their
  teeth, which leads to an increase in the wear and
  tear of the cartilage lining of the TMJ.
• There are patients who can hear a constant
  grinding, crunching, buzzing, or popping sounds
  that may be medically termed as crepitus. These
  sounds at times can be accompanied by increased
  pain.

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Symptoms
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• Some people may also experience dizziness or
  imbalance, something like vertigo.
• Few patients report a clicking sound while
  chewing or a jaw lock.
• The jaw movement may be reduced in some cases,
  which may give a general feeling of jaw being
  stuck or locked.

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Treatments

• There are various ways to treat TMD, which
  include medications, heat, and ice therapy and
  also soft diet. An acrylic splint or mouth guard
  may be used to reduce or get rid of the grinding
  and clenching of the teeth. This mouth guard fits
  between the upper and lower teeth and prevents
  them from coming together. It is usually
  prescribed for the night but most of the patients
  use it throughout the day. The splint also helps
  to balance the bite.
• It is suggested to keep the jaws apart as long as
  possible so that teeth grinding can be avoided.
  Patients are also advised against chewing gum,
  and crunchy and chewy food items.
• Heat and ice therapy may also be used to reduce
  the muscle tension. This therapy also used in
  case of TMJ injury.

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Treatments
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• If none of the aforementioned treatment options
  work then, the last resort is surgery wherein the
  ligaments may be tightened, the joints may be
  restructured and replaced. This is the last
  option and is only used in case of serious and
  severe injury.
• This condition is mostly treated with the use of
  simple treatments, and may not require surgery.
  However, the symptoms should not be overlooked as
  they may cause a lot of discomfort.

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