A temporomandibular joint or TMJ, connects your skull to the lower jaw. The lower jaw or mandible is the only movable bone in your facial skeleton and helps you chew your food. Any pain or discomfort associated with the TMJ can affect your ability to bite and chew.
The joint comprises ligaments, tendons, and surrounding muscles that help move it properly. Any movement that is hampered or deviated from the normal can be termed temporomandibular dysfunction.
There can be multiple reasons for the pain in the jaw joint. Trauma or arthritic changes can be a potential cause. Teeth grinding (bruxism) puts extra pressure on the joint. Misaligned or crooked teeth can also lead to TMJ issues due to an altered bite.
Pain around the jaw joint area or facial pain is the most common symptom of TMD. The pain may not be limited to a particular area and can radiate back towards the neck, temple region, or ears.
It can be sharp or spontaneous and may be associated with ear stuffiness, ear pain, or ringing.
In a healthy joint, there is no sound during movement; however, with TMD, you might hear a popping or clicking sound while chewing or opening and closing the joint. If not treated on time the joint may degenerate and not function properly in the future.
The best Temporomandibular Joint Treatment in Chembur option depends on the root cause of the problem. It is important to determine whether the TMJ pain is due to any dental problem or the joint itself.
Clinical examination and the radiological analysis help us diagnose the problem. Based on that, a customized treatment plan is developed that includes both non-surgical and surgical options for managing TMJ pain.
Non-surgical treatment options mainly include dental treatments that can address teeth grinding or bite issues related to crooked teeth.
Sometimes there is a change in bite due to missing teeth, which can be addressed with an implant or a bridge. Teeth grinding can be effectively managed with a night guard, whereas crooked teeth require an aligner or braces.
Night guards are used to prevent teeth clenching at night. They are clear transparent plates that prevent the teeth from coming in contact with each other. They are used at night to help relax the jaw muscles and relieve the tension around the joint.
For misaligned teeth, there are various kinds of dental braces and clear aligner options available. Misalignment can cause alterations in the bite and increase the stress on the joint. It is important to get timely treatment to achieve a more stable bite.
Missing teeth are not just an aesthetic problem but can also lead to functional issues, such as changes in bite. The opposing and neighboring teeth tend to shift into the space created by tooth loss.
This shifting and migration will alter the bite. An altered bite puts extra pressure on the jaw joint, leading to TMJ pain. Timely replacement of the missing tooth can prevent these future complications.
When all the non-surgical methods of managing joint disorders have failed, we need surgical intervention. It is often left as a last resort when all other conservative methods have failed. Surgical management includes arthroscopic surgery, open joint surgery, and arthrocentesis. Arthrocentesis is a joint aspiration technique that helps remove excess fluid from the jaw joint and flush out debris. It is comparatively less invasive.
Arthroscopic surgery is a closed-joint procedure that uses an arthroscope to guide the surgeon. Open joint surgery is done by surgically opening the whole joint and visualizing the concerned area directly.
There can be multiple reasons. Trauma or arthritic changes, teeth grinding (bruxism), misaligned or crooked teeth, and missing teeth leading to an altered bite can all cause TMJ pain. With age, the disc in the joint can also degenerate, leading to pain.
Pain around the jaw joint area or facial pain, pain radiating to the neck, temple region, or ears, popping or clicking sounds while chewing, ear stuffiness, ear pain, or ringing are common signs of TMD.
Night guards are clear transparent plates that prevent the teeth from coming in contact with each other. They are used at night to help relax the jaw muscles and relieve the tension around the joint.
If you have TMD symptoms like pain, clicking or popping sounds in your jaw joint, or pain radiating from your jaw to your ear or neck, it may be TMD. It is important to get your diagnosis done on time and to start treatment early. Schedule your appointment now to know your eligibility for the Temporomandibular Joint Treatment in Chembur.
Fill in your details and we will get back to you shortly.
Fill in your details and we will get back to you shortly.