TMJ Treatment
Relieving Jaw Pain, Headaches and More in Buda
The temporomandibular joints, known as the TMJ or jaw joints are the joints in the body responsible for talking, chewing, and general movement of the mouth. There is one joint on each side of the face just in front of the ear. The TMJ’s are the connection of the lower and upper jaws. The TMJ’s are very complex joints as the lower jaw can move in all three planes of space. Like all joints in the body, their movement is controlled by muscle action and the movements are limited in range by tendons and ligaments.
It is speculated that Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD), a condition causing pain in the joint and/or muscles controlling the joint, affects as many as 35 million people in the USA.
This pain is characterized by:
- Pain when chewing/opening
- Limited range of motion of the jaw joints
- Change in how the upper and lower teeth fit together
It can be caused by:
- accidental trauma
- medical problems like earaches
- sleep bruxism
- degenerative joint disease such as arthritis, anklyosis spondylitis
- bite disorders
Treating TMJ is individualized for each patient as the causes for the disorder vary. An accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone for treating TMJ. The rule is start with the least invasive treatment that results in symptom relief.
Treatments include:
- Behavior Modification: liquid diet to reduce motion/stress
- Physical Therapy
- Splint Therapy
- CT Analysis
- Surgery as a last resort
