Many people suffer from headaches, face pain and jaw clicking. Sometimes this
is because of problems with the jaw joint. Jaw joint problems affect about 40
percent of people at some time in their life.
Problems that affect the jaw joint
One cause of problems may be small bony growths around the joint. These may
be due to irregularities in your joint that have always been there or new
growths that have developed. Older people may get pain in their jaw joint due to
arthritis, when the joint becomes worn with age.
Jaw problems can develop if there are changes in the way your teeth meet when
you bite together, for example after having lots of teeth removed. Another cause
of jaw joint problems is previous jaw injuries, such as dislocation.
A common problem affecting the jaw joint is called temporomandibular joint
dysfunction (TMJD), where the jaw joint does not open or close correctly.
Symptoms of TMJD
The most common symptoms include:
- pain - usually a dull ache in and around the ear, cheek bone or neck
- headache, especially in the morning
- jaw joint clicking - this may make a sound and you may feel a cracking,
grating, crunching or popping sensation
- jaw locking - either open or closed
- being unable to open your mouth properly
If you suffer from jaw joint problems you may have several of these symptoms
or you may just have one. Symptoms may be worse during certain everyday
activities such as chewing or yawning, and you may find they are worse if you
are stressed.
What causes TMJD symptoms?
The jaw pain, clicking and restricted movement may be caused by problems with
either the jaw joint itself or the muscles surrounding it, or both.
Pain can be caused by the ligaments and muscles surrounding the jaw
tightening up.
Alternatively the ligaments may become loose, so that the disc of cartilage
no longer stays between the jaw bone and the skull when the joint is moved. This
may make a noise, either when the disc clicks forward after the mouth is opened
or clicks back into place when it is closed. The noise may seem louder to you
because the joint is close to the ear. Jaw locking is also caused by the disc
slipping and getting stuck out of place.
Why does TMJD develop?
One of the most common causes of TMJD is teeth grinding and clenching, when
you regularly push and scrape your teeth together. You may do this at night when
you are sleeping, or when you are concentrating on something or feeling
stressed. You may not be aware that you are doing it. Jaw problems can also
result from nail biting or holding things between your teeth, which you may do
more when you feel anxious or stressed.
Diagnosing jaw joint problems
Jaw joint problems are usually diagnosed by your dentist.
Your dentist needs to find out what is causing your problems so that he or
she can advise you which treatments may be best for you. So it is important to
discuss all of your symptoms. He or she will ask where and when you feel pain or
clicking.
Your dentist will look at your teeth for signs of wear due to grinding and
examine your jaw joint. This will involve checking the way that you open and
close your mouth and feeling the muscles around the area to see if they are
tender. Your dentist may also ask you if you are feeling stressed or anxious
because this may be making any grinding or clenching worse.
Treatment for TMJD
Treatment depends on the type of jaw joint problem you have.
Usually your dentist will be able to help relieve your symptoms with simple
treatments. He or she will explain the problem to you and give you advice on
anything you can do to reduce pain or clicking, such as not yawning too widely
or choosing soft foods.
Your dentist may give you some jaw exercises to do. The aim of these is to
improve the way that the joint works and to strengthen the muscles surrounding
it. If stress is causing symptoms, counseling and relaxation therapy can help
some people.
Your dentist may prescribe painkillers to help ease the pain. He or she may
also advise you to put a heat pad or ice pack on the jaw joint area to help
soothe it. If you use ice, don't apply it directly to your skin. Wrap it in a
clean cloth or towel.
If your dentist thinks that you are clenching or grinding your teeth at night
then he or she may suggest that you wear a mouth splint or mouth guard. This is
a cover made from hard or soft plastic that fits over your upper or lower teeth.
The aim of the splint is to change the way your teeth close together and prevent
you grinding your teeth.
The splint is made to fit your mouth exactly. Your dentist will take
impressions of your teeth using a kind of putty and send these to a laboratory
where the splint is made.
You normally wear the splint at night and can also wear it at stressful times
to prevent grinding and clenching. A splint can start to relieve pain in about
three or four weeks, though your dentist will probably recommend that you keep
wearing it for longer.
Your dentist will refer you to a specialist if your symptoms do not improve.
The specialist may prescribe stronger painkillers or other medication to help
relieve the pain. If stress or anxiety is making you grind or clench your teeth,
he or she may prescribe anti-depressants to help you to relax.
Occasionally, surgery may be recommended. This is not common and is only
recommended for a small number of people. It is important that you talk through
all of the options with your specialist before having any surgery.
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