If you’re experiencing chronic pain or other types of discomfort involving your jaws, it’s possible you’re suffering from temporomandibular disorders (TMD). TMD refers to problems associated with the jaw joint, also known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and the surrounding tissues—with symptoms ranging from slight discomfort to severe pain.
There are different approaches for treating TMD that vary from one dental professional to another. A basic knowledge of TMD and the variety of treatment options often used can be very beneficial as you pursue relief from this disorder.
The temporomandibular joint is located at the intersection of the lower jaw (mandible) and the lower part of the skull (temporal bone); it allows vertical and horizontal movement of the lower jaw. A TMJ is a “ball and socket” joint with a cushioning disk that rests between the mandibular ball (the condyle) and the socket in the temporal bone.
When the joint and attending muscles and ligaments show symptoms of pain and dysfunction, it’s referred to as a temporomandibular disorder. One such symptom is a clicking sound at or near the joint, which is caused by the disk shifting inside the joint. The sound can at times be heard by persons standing nearby, or even felt when placing your fingers on your face just in front of the ears. It’s estimated that one-third of all people have this click, most without any accompanying problems; therefore, in most cases, treatment isn’t necessary. However, if the click is accompanied by pain or with a feeling that the jaw is stuck in either an open or closed position, you should seek medical attention.
Muscle pain is another major symptom of TMD, especially if felt in the cheeks or temples where the two large jaw muscles are located. If the pain seems more intense upon waking in the morning and accompanied by jaw stiffness, it could be a symptom of teeth clenching, a chronic habit of biting down, or teeth grinding, a chronic habit of moving the teeth against each other that often occurs during sleep. In this case, an occlusal nightguard, specifically designed for your teeth and jaw movements, can be worn in the mouth at night to prevent your teeth from forcefully contacting each other.
Another common symptom is a sharp pain from the joint itself. As with other joints, this type of pain is typically classified as arthritis, for which there is no known cure. In this case, it’s best handled by managing symptoms through medication, rest, soft diet and physical therapy. In a few instances, severe cases may benefit from cortisone injections or lavage, a procedure that flushes debris from the joint.
While pain symptoms may indicate TMD, it’s also possible they originate from other areas of the body. The jaw joints share similar nerve networks with the teeth and sinuses, as well as neck and back muscles; the pain you feel near your jaw may be radiated pain from one of these other locations. Before making the assumption that you have TMD, you should first visit your dentist to rule out other causes.
If indeed you’re diagnosed with TMD, you should be familiar with the treatment approaches your dentist may take. There exists, in actuality, two schools of thought for treating jaw joint disorders. The more respected and popular approach views TMD as primarily a joint problem that should be treated orthopedically as you would other joint problems. These kinds of treatments are more conservative and less invasive than those used in the more aggressive approaches: the use of medications for pain and to relax rigid muscles; physical therapy, massage or light stretching to exercise and strengthen the joint muscles; or cold and hot alternating therapies using ice and warming packs applied to the jaws to relieve pain and relax the muscles. Since most TMD problems are stress-related, this approach should be used first as all of these treatments are reversible. More irreversible treatments can slowly be considered as your response to treatment is evaluated.
The more traditional approach used in the past was based on the belief that jaw muscle pain arises primarily from the dysfunction caused by bad bites (malocclusions), disruptions related to missing teeth, or jaw misalignments. The treatments used in this approach aim to correct the dysfunction as a way to relieve the pain and other symptoms felt in the jaw: orthodontics to correct malocclusions, and teeth crowning or reshaping, for example. All of these will result in permanent changes to the teeth or mouth structure, but with no assurance of significant relief of TMD symptoms.
While there are merits to both of these approaches, the orthopedic view is the more accepted view today and is usually preferred as a beginning point for treatment. Becoming acquainted with both views and their associated treatments for TMD will help you have a more informed discussion with your dentist or physician about your treatment plan and options.
TMD-related pain and reduced function can make daily life difficult or even debilitating—and finding the right treatment mix that effectively relieves your symptoms can be just as difficult. But knowing about the treatments used, as well as the background for using them, will help you better navigate through these various options and find effective relief from TMD.
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