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| Wazio Orthodontics |
As a Certified Specialists in Orthodontics, Dr. John Wazio doesn't just create beautifully straight smiles, he also deals with the bite as a whole…including the jaw.
If you touch your face right in front of your ear while opening and closing your jaw, you’ll feel your temporomandibular joint at work. When your temporomandibular joint working as it should, you can yawn or take a big bite of your favorite food without thinking twice. When your temporomandibular joint is off, yawning and opening your mouth wide can cause serious pain.
What is TMD/TMJ? The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the 2 joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull. More specifically, they are the joints that slide and rotate in front of each ear and consist of the mandible (the lower jaw) and the temporal bone (the side and base of the skull). The TMJs are among the most complex joints in the body. These joints, along with several muscles, allow the jaw to move up and down, side to side, and forward and back. When the jaw and the joints are properly aligned, smooth muscle actions, such as chewing, talking, yawning, and swallowing, can take place. When these structures are not aligned, or synchronized in movement, several problems may occur.
TMD stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. This refers to any dysfunction of the TMJ. While people often refer to problems with the joint as TMJ, that’s the name for the joint itself and TMJ pain is actually a TMJ disorder and part of a larger category of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). TMD involves the temporomandibular joint or its associated structures, such as the discs, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments. TMD is the result of an injured or misaligned TMJ. When your jaw becomes misaligned from trauma or crooked teeth, the everyday tasks performed by your TMJ can become painful, causing a wide range of symptoms that can affect your entire body. TMD affects as many as 15% of all Americans resulting in chronic facial pain, such as jaw pain, headaches or earaches and is the most common non-dental related chronic facial pain.
The symptoms of TMD may look like other conditions or medical problems. The following are the most common signs and symptoms of TMD:
- Jaw discomfort or soreness
- Headaches
- Pain spreading behind the eyes, in the face, shoulder, neck, and/or back
- Earaches or ringing in the ears
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
- Locking of the jaw
- Limited mouth motions
- Clenching or grinding of the teeth
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity of the teeth
- Numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers
- A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
What Causes Temporomandibular Joint Disorders? Unfortunately, there isn’t one universal cause when it comes to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. TMD can result from a variety of different things or a combination of things. Symptoms can also appear spontaneously with no obvious source, making pinpointing the root problem difficult. However, TMD is generally thought to be caused by: injury to the jaw or joint, arthritis in the joint, the disc eroding or getting displaced, chronic teeth grinding, or a bite imbalance.
If TMD is left untreated, it can lead to inflammation, swelling, or chronic pain. It can also contribute to progressive dental problems, such as premature tooth wear and periodontal disease.
Treatment of TMJ disorders depends on the cause. Custom nightguards or oral splints can be an excellent way to get relief without medication. If TMD is due to malocclusion or an imbalance in bite forces, braces or Invisalign can align the teeth and jaws, which repositions the TMJ and surrounding structures.
Key Points About Temporomandibular Disorders
- Temporomandibular disorders are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the nerves linked to chronic facial pain.
- TMD may be caused by too much strain on the jaw joints and the muscle group that controls chewing, swallowing, and speech. This may be due to teeth grinding, injury to the jaw, head, or neck, or arthritis.
- Symptoms may include jaw pain, headaches, earaches, limited mouth motions, jaw clicking, popping, or locking. There may also be pain in the face, shoulder, neck, or back.
- Treatment may include resting the temporomandibular joint, physical therapy, medicine, behavior changes, or an orthodontic appliance or mouthguard.
- TMD symptoms can come back during times of stress. It helps to be aware of what triggers your symptoms so you can prevent a recurrence.
There are other issues that can cause the symptoms most commonly experienced with TMD, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and even medical conditions like arthritis. That’s why it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis and the appropriate treatment from an experienced orthodontist like Dr. Wazio. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms associated with TMD, give Wazio Orthodontics a call.