Are You Experiencing TMJ Problems?

Quest Johnson Orthodontics

As Certified Specialists in Orthodontics, Dr. Quest and Dr. Johnson don’t just make amazing looking smiles, they also deal with the bite as a whole…including the jaw. If you touch your face right in front of your ear while opening and closing your jaw, you’ll feel your temporomandibular joint at work. When your temporomandibular joint working as it should, you can yawn or take a big bite of your favorite food without thinking twice. When your temporomandibular joint is off, yawning and opening your mouth wide can cause serious pain.

What is TMD/TMJ? The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a joint that connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone on either side of the face. The temporomandibular joint is capable of both hinge and sliding motions, allowing us to shift the jaw side to side and forward and back to do things like chew, yawn, and talk.

While people often refer to problems with the joint as TMJ, that’s the name for the joint itself and TMJ pain is actually a TMJ disorder and part of a larger category of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). TMD involves the temporomandibular joint or its associated structures, such as the discs, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments.

The most common TMD symptoms include:

• Popping sounds, clicking noises, or a grating sensation when you open and close your mouth

• Pain and tenderness in the jaw, face, neck, or shoulders

• Jaws that get stuck or locked in an open or closed position

• A decrease in jaw mobility leading to trouble opening the mouth fully

• A change in your bite (how the top and bottom teeth fit together)

• Muscle spasms around the jaw

• Frequent headaches, earaches, pressure, and pain behind the eyes

What Causes Temporomandibular Joint Disorders? Unfortunately, there isn’t one universal cause when it comes to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. TMD can result from a variety of different things or a combination of things. Symptoms can also appear spontaneously with no obvious source, making pinpointing the root problem difficult. However, TMD is generally thought to be caused by:

• Injury to the jaw or joint 
• Arthritis in the joint 
• The disc eroding or getting displaced 
• Chronic teeth grinding 
• A bite imbalance

If TMD is left untreated, it can lead to inflammation, swelling, or chronic pain. It can also contribute to progressive dental problems, such as premature tooth wear and periodontal disease.

Treatment of TMJ disorders depends on the cause. Custom nightguards or oral splints can be an excellent way to get relief without medication. If TMD is due to malocclusion or an imbalance in bite forces, braces or Invisalign can align the teeth and jaws, which repositions the TMJ and surrounding structures.

There are other issues that can cause the symptoms most commonly experienced with TMD, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and even medical conditions like arthritis. That’s why it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis and the appropriate treatment from experienced orthodontists like Drs. Quest and Johnson. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms associated with TMD, give our office a call.