WHAT IS TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ)?
Temporomandibular joints connect the jawbone to the skull. It is an articulation, synovial in nature, between the skull and the mandible (Lower Jaw). Its main function is lower jaw movement.
WHAT IS TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER (TMD)?
A disease related to the jaws and its joints which might include the muscles of your face is known as TMJ disorder.
WHAT CAUSES TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER (TMD)?
A heavy blow during a fight/sports, clenching/grinding of the teeth, dislocation of the disc, arthritis, improper occlusion/bite, a developmental defect, improper fusion of fractured jaw bone, or trauma might cause TMD.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER?
– Difficulty Chewing.
The patient might experience pain in the ear, jaw or face.
– There might be difficulty in opening/closing of the jaws, in chewing.
– Muscle spasms and clicking sounds in the joints.
– Joint locking may be present.
– Other Symptoms: Headache, Pain in the neck or shoulders, A tired feeling in your face, ringing in your ears, Swelling on the side of your face.
WHY IS EARLY TREATMENT RECOMMENDED?
– The damage is irreversible, hence earlier the treatment, lessen the damage. An early treatment prevents a chronic disorder.
– Another major concern is the cost factor. Once the pain is neglected and TMD reaches an advanced stage, joint replacement becomes crucial, which is extremely expensive.
HOW IS TMD DIAGNOSED?
– Clinical Evaluation: is done in order to locate the areas of pain, discomfort or for clicking sound.
– Radiographic evaluation: might be done as well in order to locate the changes in the jawbone and joints (eg. X-ray, CBCT, MRI).
– Arthroscopy: is used for diagnosis, at times, during which the doctor inserts a cannula in the joint space, followed by the insertion of a small camera known as an arthroscope in order to view the affected area and arrive at a diagnosis.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT OF TMJ DISORDER?
Treatments range from simple self-care practices and conservative treatments to injections and open surgery. Most experts agree that treatment should begin with conservative, nonsurgical therapies, with surgery left as the last resort.
> Restrictions: Avoid extreme jaw movements.
> Medications: Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, Trigger point injections.
> Oral splints/ mouthguard.
> Physiotherapy: Exercises for strengthening and relaxing jaw muscles.
> Therapy: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Radio Wave Therapy, Laser Therapy, UltraSound.
> The last resort is surgery. It includes arthrocentesis (This minor procedure is performed in the office, usually under local anesthesia), open-joint surgery.
WHY TEETH CARE CENTRE?
TCC comprises of highly qualified dental specialists and master degree holders offering comprehensive treatment of TMJ. Teeth Care Centre has a TMJ Specialist who has earned the Masters degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and has been a TMJ Arthroscopy and Total Joint Replacement Resident and has been trained for the same from Austria and Germany. Our specialized doctor offers a treatment best suited for the patient after evaluation of all the prospects.
Contact Us:
Teeth Care Centre
2nd Floor, Pushpak66, Near Someshwar Jain Temple, 132ft Ring Road, Satellite, Ahmedabad 380015, India.
Call: +917878783384
http://www.teethcarecentre.com/contact