Temporomandibular
disorders can cause symptoms that are similar to other diseases.
Do you notice clicking or popping when you open your mouth? Is it difficult
or painful to open your mouth? Does your jaw occasionally lock, so it
is stuck open or closed? If so, you should see your dentist for a consultation
and examination. You may have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). These
disorders include problems of the chewing muscles, the jaw joint (called
the temporomandibular joint or TMJ), or both.
Here are some key symptoms linked to TMD.
Unusual sounds — Clicking, grinding or popping
sounds when you open your mouth are common in people with TMD. The sounds
may or may not be accompanied by pain. According to the National Institute
of Dental and Craniofacial Research, researchers believe that most people
with popping or clicking in the jaw joint probably have a displaced disc.
However, they also note that as long as the displaced disc causes no
pain or problems with jaw movement, no treatment is needed.
Locking or limited movement — The jaw joint
is similar to a ball-and-socket joint except that the socket itself is
movable. The jaw joint sometimes may lock in an open or closed position.
You may have difficulty opening your mouth either because the joint is
locked or because of pain.
" Ear" pain — You
may think you have an ear infection, but ear pain may be related to jaw
joint inflammation or muscle tenderness. Pain from TMD is usually felt
in front of or below the ear.
Headaches — People with TMD often report headaches.
Your dentist can help to determine if your specific headache symptoms
are a result of TMD. In some situations, you may need to consult a physician
to help diagnose and treat certain headaches not related to TMD.
Morning stiffness or soreness — If your jaw
muscles are stiff and sore when you wake up, it may by a sign that you
are clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep. Clenching or grinding
teeth can exhaust jaw muscles and lead to pain.
Difficulty chewing — You may have difficulty
chewing as a result of a change in your bite—the way your upper
and lower teeth fit together. This shift in your bite may be related
to TMD.
Previous injuries and related conditions — A
recent injury to the jaw joint or one from many years past can lead to
TMD symptoms. Arthritis in the joint also may arise from injury. Arthritis
already affecting other joints may affect the jaw joint and lead to TMD.
Others — Though the research is controversial,
a feeling of fullness of the ears or ringing in the ears may sometimes
be related to TMD. In these cases, consultation with an "ear, nose
and throat" physician can help establish the final diagnosis.
"If these symptoms sound familiar, talk to your dentist. Your dentist
will test your ability to open and close your jaw, examine other jaw
movements, and feel the jaw joint and muscles for pain or tenderness.
The dentist will listen with a stethoscope in front of the ear for any
clicking, popping or grinding sounds and will feel the jaw joint while
you open and close it.
X-rays are often taken to look at the jaw joint and to rule out other
diseases. In some cases, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be needed
to further examine the bony detail of the joint. In addition, magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) is sometimes recommended to analyze the soft
tissues.
While it is advisable to discuss any TMD symptoms with your dentist,
occasional discomfort in the jaw joint and chewing muscles is quite common
and usually not a cause for concern. However, if you are diagnosed with
TMD, the good news is that simple self-care practices are highly effective
in relieving the discomfort. These include eating soft foods, applying
heat or ice packs and avoiding extreme jaw movements. Effective, conservative
treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants,
physical therapy and oral appliances.
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