JAW AND FACIAL PAIN
WHAT IS TMJ?
- TMJ Joints (Temporomandibular joints/Jaws Joint) facilitate mouth opening and closing for activities like chewing, talking, and swallowing.
- They connect the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull via muscles and ligaments.
- The lower jaw's head (condyle) fits into the temporal bone's concavity (glenoid fossa) with an articular disc in between, which is attached by muscles and acts as a cushion.
- During jaw movement, the disc remains between the two TMJ bones, aiding smooth function.
WHAT IS TMD?
- Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a jaw joint condition causing pain.
- Teeth alignment issues can lead to joint displacement.
- Forward-pulled disc may cause lower jaw to move too far back, compressing nerves and blood vessels.
- Displacement can result in clicking, popping sounds, severe pain, and permanent joint damage.
- Unstable bite contributes to joint displacement and muscle strain, leading to myofascial disorders.
- Joint derangement disorders stem from dislocated jaw, displaced disc, or injured bone.
- Degenerative joint disorders result from conditions like arthritis, damaging joint cartilage.
who is at risk for tmd?
- Women account for 90% of patients, seeking treatment for TMD.
- Patients with high stress levels as they present with head, neck, and facial muscle tension.
- Patients who grind and clench their teeth.
- People with tongue tie
- Mouth breathers
- Patients who have untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Patients who have chronic inflammatory diseases
- Patients with previous jaw and head injury
SIGNS and symptoms OF TMD
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint
- Limited movement or locking of the jaw
- Chronic recurring headaches
- Earaches, congestion, or ringing ears
- Facial pain or fatigue
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Shoulder and lower back pain
- Changes in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
