TMD/TMJ-Related Head & Face Pain
Signs and Symptons of TM Disorder ("TMJ")
TM disorders have many signs and symptoms. Some of the most common are the following:
- Pain in or around the ear; this pain often spreads to the face.
- Tenderness of the jaw muscles.
- Clicking or popping noise when one opens or closes the mouth.
- Difficulty in opening one’s mouth
- Jaws that "get stuck," "lock," or "go out"
- Pain brought on by yawning, chewing, or opening the mouth widely.
- Certain types of headaches or neck aches.
We can determine the cause of your symptoms by conducting a series of diagnostic tests. These may include a complete medical history, clinical examination, X-rays, and casts (models) of your teeth. We may refer you to a physician or other specialist. This procedure may seem time-consuming, but proper diagnosis is an important step before treatment. It can save time and money by ensuring that you receive the treatment appropriate for your particular problem.
Causes of TM Disorders
- Oral habits such as clenching the teeth or grinding the teeth (bruxism). These habits can tire the muscles and cause them to go into spasm. The spasm causes pain, which in turn causes more spasm. The end result of this spasm-pain-spasm cycle may eventually be a TM disorder.
- Problems in the way the teeth fit together or bite. Improperly aligned teeth can sometimes place the chewing muscles under stress and cause them to go into spasm, thus setting off the harmful cycle described earlier.
Frequently, oral habits and problems with the bite work together to cause TM disorders.
Example
1:
Paula
is under a great deal of pressure from work. She develops a habit
of grinding her teeth while sleeping. This causes muscle spasm and,
eventually, pain and tenderness in her jaw muscles. Because of these
problems, a slight change in the position of Paula’s jaw occurs, and her
teeth no longer fit together correctly. She develops a new chewing
pattern, and this increases the muscle spasm.
Example
2:
Ever
since he was a boy, David has had teeth that do not fit together correctly
when his mouth is closed. This never seemed to be much of a problem
for him, but now his bad bite triggers tooth clenching and causes his chewing
muscles to function incorrectly. Muscle spasm occurs, and pain limits
the normal range of David’s jaw movements. As a result, David’s chewing
pattern changes, and this contributes to his TM symptoms.
Treatment for TM Disorders
Some common methods of treating TM disorders are listed below:
- Elimination of spasm and pain. This can be done by applying moist heat to the face, using prescribed muscle relaxants or other medications, massaging the muscles, and eating soft, non-chewy foods. Bite plates or occlusal (bite) splints may be required to relax the muscles, to decompress the jaw joints, and protect the teeth.
- Counseling or biofeedback/relaxation training. Many times, counseling is used along with other forms of treatment. If emotional stress is the factor that causes clenching or grinding of the teeth, that stress should be reduced or eliminated. Biofeedback can also be helpful in reducing muscle tension in the jaws. An "overlay" appliance or dental restorations may be required to support the joints and muscles in the proper position.
- Correcting the way the teeth fit together. If your bite is incorrect or uneven, it can be adjusted by selective grinding of the teeth. Orthodontic appliance (braces) and other dental procedures may also be used to reduce problems caused by incorrect tooth contact (improperly aligned teeth).
- Surgery. If muscle spasm have occurred for long periods, the TM joint itself may become injured or arthritic. In addition, the bones and soft tissue of the TMJ may slip out of normal position because of trauma, such as a blow to the head, or some other cause. Occasionally, in severe cases such as these, surgery may be needed to correct the TMJ problem.
- Generally, our goal is to reduce the stress on the teeth, muscles and joints to allow healing and pain relief. We then also, with nutrition and lifestyle modification, try to give the body greater capacity to deal with negative factors so it can more resist those things which otherwise might cause pain.