Teeth Bleaching Planet

Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)

Many people have heard of TMJ, but few know what it stands for and what it means. Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome is a dysfunction of the jaw joint that causes pain in several forms. Here we’ll discuss symptoms, causes, treatments, and the mechanisms of the disease.

The TMJ Association defines the condition as “a painful condition affecting the area where the lower jaw connects to the sides of the skull which impairs function and sensation in the face and jaw, which may spread to the ears, neck, and shoulders.” The organization also estimates that 10 million Americans suffer from the disease, 90% of them women in their childbearing years. I am a 22-year-old female and I have TMJ, which I guess makes me “part of the crowd!”

Causes and Risk Factors

Other than direct trauma and degenerative joint disease, argument abounds about the direct causes of TMJ. There is some evidence that it is associated with genetic heritage; in my case, my mother suffers from TMJ, and statistically, that made me more likely to have it myself. However, Dr. Linda LeResche of the University of Washington hypothesizes that sex hormones play a role in pain, suggesting that women simply suffer more pain from TMJ than men because of their hormones and that is why they are more likely to seek treatment. The study demonstrated that “women on hormone replacement therapy were 77% more likely to seek treatment for jaw pain than those not undergoing such treatment. Also, women on oral contraceptive therapy were 19% more likely to seek treatment.”

A complete list of possible causes includes:

* Trauma
* Disease (osteoarthritis, etc.)
* Aging (in its association with joint disease)
* Oral Habits (such as mouth-breathing and nail biting, which put strain on the joint through unusual positioning)
* Dental work (such as wisdom tooth extraction, which requires extreme, prolonged opening of the jaw)
* Genetic Predisposition
* Orthodontics (many adult cases of TMJ today are believed to be a direct result of inappropriate orthodontic devices no longer used today)
* Stress and Bruxism (teeth-grinding)
* Malocclusion (misaligned bite)
* Gender

Symptoms

TMJ has a variety of clinical symptoms that may seem unrelated to the jaw joint when examined out of context. This is why TMJ is frequently misdiagnosed, often as migraines. Patients will go in to see their doctor complaining of neck and shoulder pain accompanied by headaches, and not mention the clicking their jaw makes when they chew because they themselves don’t see the connection.

The following list of possible symptoms was compiled from a variety of sources:

* facial pain

* jaw joint pain

* neck, shoulder, back pain and tension, often accompanied by headaches

* popping, grating or clicking sounds with movement of the jaw joint, especially in chewing

* pain in the joints of the face when opening or closing the mouth, yawning, or chewing

* swelling on the side of the face and/or mouth

* a bite that feels uncomfortable, “off,” or as if it is continually changing; i.e., when you bite down sometimes you feel as if your teeth aren’t lining up the way they normally do

* limited opening or inability to open the mouth comfortably

* deviation of the jaw to one side

* the jaw locking open or locking closed

* a zig-zagging pattern when opening and closing the mouth (you can check this by watching yourself in the mirror as you slowly open and close your mouth; people with TMJ will notice a point where their jaw seems to stick, zig to the side, and zag back into place as the movement is completed).

People with these symptoms often report disturbances in their vision and hearing as well. Referred pain is often the cause of the additional symptoms, and such pain in the inner ear can also cause dizziness or vertigo. It is important that these symptoms be addressed by a medical doctor to eliminate the possibility of other illnesses. Once TMJ is established by your doctor as the appropriate diagnosis, you will most likely be referred to a dentist for treatment.

Tags: dental treatment | Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome