Everything You Need to Know About TMJ Dysfunction/Disorder

What is TMJ

TMJ is an abbreviation for Temporo-Mandibular Joint which is the jaw joint or the connecting joint between your jaw and skull. You can find the TMJ by placing your fingers just in front of your ears and opening and closing your mouth. A TMJ disorder may affect one or both joints, often causing pain and limited jaw function.

Symptoms for TMJ Dysfunction may include:

• Jaw locking

• Jaw clicking or grating

• Difficulty chewing

• Headaches

• Earaches

• Chirodontic issues (face, neck, or back pains)

• Clenching and grinding of teeth (bruxism)

• Toothache

• Muscle spasms

• Misaligned bite

Possible Causes for TMJ Dysfunction

• Missing teeth

• Grinding or clenching of teeth (bruxism), which may as a result of stress

• Emotional or physical stress and tension in the jaw muscles

• Injuries such as TMJ fractures or dislocations

• Degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

• Wrongly shaped dental fillings, crowns, and bridges.

When to See a TMJ Specialist

Medical attention is highly recommended when pain and/or tenderness is persistent in your jaw.

Call us now at 02 9558 8988 or email us at info@painfreedentistsydney.com.au to have your TMJ consultation done today!

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POTENTIAL CAUSES OF JAW PAIN ON ONE SIDE

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) often develop symmetrically, in both jaw joints at the same time. However, it is possible for people to develop the disorder and experience symptoms on just one side of the head. However, as the condition progresses, it will likely spread to affect the other joint as well.

There are several causes affecting one-sided jaw pain:

Jaw Trauma

A broken jaw

Jaw trauma can be classified into two types: a broken/fractured jaw or a dislocated jaw.

A broken jaw is a break (fracture) in the jaw bone. A dislocated jaw means the lower part of the jaw has moved out of its normal position at one or both joints where the jaw bone connects to the skull (temporomandibular joints).

A broken or dislocated jaw usually heals after treatment. Nonetheless, patients may develop complications such as the jaw can dislocate out of its usual position, causing teeth crowding (misalignment), swelling or infection of the face and jaw, difficulty eating, difficulty talking, as well as TMJ dysfunctions (ongoing jaw and face pain).

Dental Issues:

Dental problems can often seem like jaw problems. In particular, a visibly damaged tooth will certainly cause cavities, which can result in jaw pain when the tooth deteriorates to a point where the tooth root becomes infected. This infection can spread to tissues in the jawbone which can cause severe pain if left untreated.

To look out for tooth infections that can cause jaw pain, visible signs you can find are damaged or discolored teeth/enamel, sores on your gums, discharge from the tooth and/or gums, and bad breath.

Tooth infections

Adults with growing wisdom teeth can experience jaw pain if they shift their teeth’ alignment or cause unwanted pressure in the jaw. If you are between ages 17 to 25 years, you can feel the wisdom tooth pushing through the very back part of your gums, causing gum and jaw pain.

Sinusitis:

Sinusitis, or commonly called sinus infection, is a medical condition in which the cavities around the nasal passages become inflamed. Acute sinusitis can often be caused by the common cold, a viral infection, which usually resolves on its own. Chronic sinusitis may last up to eight weeks. Both acute and chronic sinusitis require medical treatments such as pain medications, nasal decongestants, and nasal rinses however, chronic sinusitis may require antibiotics in addition as well. Some symptoms can include a stuffy (congested) nose, which can prevent the drainage of your nose’s mucus, headaches and/or facial pains.

Healthy sinus vs. Sinusitis

Your jaw area can become inflamed and in pain when you are suffering from sinus infection. This is likely to happen due to the pressure on your sinus cavity spreading to other areas of your face.

Chronic sinusitis has symptoms that can overlap with TMJ dysfunction, such as:

• Headaches

• Facial pain or pressure

• Jaw pain

• Toothache

• Neck pain

• Ear pain or tinnitus

• Dizziness or vertigo

Want to solve your jaw pain issues? Call us now at 02 9558 8988 or email us at info@painfreedentistsydney.com.au to organise a consultation today!

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TMJ - Temporomandibular Joints

What is TMJ?

TMJ is usually referred by patients as TMJ pain in particular pain to the temporomandibular joints that control the jaw movements. The joints are complex as they not only move up and down, they move side by side and translate forward. 

TMJ dysfunction or TMJ disorder refers to pain or discomfort or clicks to the joint complex that relates to the muscles, ligaments, discs, and relationships of your teeth that are not in synchronization. As the jaw, muscles, and teeth work together, when the balance is off, pain and inflammation will set in.

How do the Teeth, Jaw, and TMJ relate together?

The relationship of the teeth is thrown off balance with misalignment, orthodontic treatment, accidents, crowding can throw the jaw during function when the jaw first close, on chewing, and side by side, or locked in a certain position.

The jaw balance will be thrown off and each time its thrown off, the joint complex is strained and becomes inflamed. This inflammation, if not treated, will become chronic degeneration of the joint and worse case, there will be damages to the middle ear, causing deafness. 

Certain conditions like arthritis, hormonal changes, genetics, teeth clenching, teeth grinding (bruxism) can exacerbate the condition further.

WHAT IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF TMJ?

There are many factors contributing to TMJ dysfunction. These include:

• Shock-absorbing disk of the temporomandibular joint wearing out or sliding away from its proper alignment.

• Arthritis causing joint cartilage damage.

• Jaw injury.

• Chronic or long-term bruxism (grinding/clenching) of teeth.

• Connective tissue diseases cause problems that may affect the temporomandibular joint.

TMJ  Symptoms

TMJ can be directly related to the joint complex where there is degeneration of the joint, inflammation to the jaw joints, headaches, migraines, tight muscles, toothache, locked jaw, clicking jaw, jaw popping, pain to the shoulders, neck, head. Sometimes referred pain to the jaw relates to other issues from other parts of the body such as heart issues, stomach issues. For an experienced dentist, these differential diagnoses can be determined. 

iS TMJ A SERIOUS PROBLEM?

If TMJ dysfunction is left untreated, it can lead to serious problems, worse cases from acute pain to chronic and hard-to-treat one.

Some arising issues can include:

• Bite discomfort

• Loss of appetite

• Tooth erosion (due to bruxism)

• Long-term sleep apnea

• Long-term insomnia

• Depression

• Anxiety

iS TMJ a medical or dental problem?

TMJ disorder can both be a medical and dental problem. There are also many other medical conditions which cause TMJ disorder, such as arthritis, tongue tie or hereditary issues which affect the jaw structure. TMJ disorder can be a dental issue by nature when it is caused by a person’s unaligned teeth.

TMJ Treatment

Treatment for TMJ HEADACHE AND MIGRAINES ARE MOST EFFECTIVE WITH BOTOX TREATMENT AND PHYSICAL THERAPY AS WELL AS PHYSICAL SELF REGULATION. There are other various ways for the treatment of TMJ pain/ TMD

1. TMJ-BOTOX treatment is commonly used to relax the tight muscles attributed by bruxism, teeth clenching.

2. Arthrocentesis is flushing out the joint complex to allow the area to heal.

3. Physiotherapy, releasing the muscle cramps and rebalancing your body's posture. The body's posture contributes to jaw pain when held in an incorrect position. Some occupation which has certain posture held in one position for long periods ie sitting in front of a computer will cause muscle cramps and these cramps translate to referred pain to the jaw. Hence working with complementary therapists such as masseuse, acupuncture, osteopath, chiropractor, the physiotherapist will assist in releasing those tight muscles.

4. Splint therapy by de-programming the incorrect bite and realignment of teeth or rebuilding of the teeth and bite correction with composite resins and crowns will assist in the alignment of the jaw. 

5. Medication for pain management and assisting in sleeplessness.

TMJ headache, migraine and treatment

Treatment of TMJ

TMJ migraine can be  CHRONIC AND EPISODIC, Recurrent headaches lasting 4-72 hours, One-sided, pulsating, moderate-to-severe pain and decreased ability to function in everyday situations.

SOME OF THE ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS ARE ALSO PRESENT DURING AN ATTACK such as Nausea and/or vomiting, Sensitivity to light, Sensitivity to sound. Other symptoms may include sweating or cold hands, diarrhea, pale skin color, and scalp tenderness or pain from touch or pressure (such as a necklace touching the skin, hair brushing, or shaving). This kind of pain is called allodynia.

SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR FOR TMJ?

TMJ pain requires treatment from a medical specialist - a dentist. Dentists don’t just treat your teeth, they are specialists who are well-trained to cater to the holistic aspect of your well-being, particularly in the anatomy of the neck, face, jaw, and diagnosing dysfunction in the bite.

How doES A DENTIST CHECK FOR TMJ?

When you arrive at the clinic, the dentist first examines your jaw when you close and open your mouth to identify limitations of jaw movement. The dentist will then palpate (lightly pressing on) areas surrounding your jaw to identify pain points and possibly jaw dislocation.

After the examination, the patient will then be guided under an X-Ray scan. The consultation generally lasts about 30 minutes to one hour depending on the concerns and severity of the condition.

At Pain Free Dentist Sydney, we are proud to take a unique approach to treating TMJ conditions. If consent, Dr. Lisa Chong will temporarily relieve the pain around your face and start a splint therapy treatment. This will involve the use of a “splint” - an acrylic-based mouthguard that would realign your jaw to slide into the right place.

The success of the treatment is heavily dependent on the commitment of the patient to wear the splint for a long duration of time.

TMJ exercises

TMJ exercises may alleviate pain for some but not others as individual cases vary greatly. Exercises should be consulted by experts to target certain muscles and retrain the jaw to move correctly without pain.

Have TMJ and need help?

Call us now at 02 9558 8988 or email us at info@painfreedentistsydney.com.au to organise a consultation today!

Make an Appointment