What Is TMJ?
TMJ refers to your jaw joint – which unabbreviated is the “Temporomandibular joint”. This joint connects your jaw via a tiny flat disc (called the aritcular disc) to your skull. When people talk about TMJ jaw pain, they often mean TMD.
TMD refers to “Temporomandibular joint disorder” – which is the general term dentist use when you have been diagnosed with jaw joint pain.
There are many causes of Jaw Joint pain, some of which include:
- Frequent heavy grinding and clenching
- Damage to the jaw joint or muscles
- Joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis
- Inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis
- Displacement of the articular disc
Consequences of untreated TMD can cause a variety of problems such as misaligned teeth and a poor bite. This may cause further strain on your jaw muscles leading to headaches, back pain, neck pain. You may start to hear grinding or clicking noises that may eventually worsen to restricted jaw movements and pain when chewing or talking. Some patients experience tinnitus (ringing ears) which may lead to dizziness.
If you are experiencing TMJ pain, we recommend that you book an appointment with us as soon as possible so we can assess your jaw.
Signs and Symptoms of TMJ Pain
Grinding or Clenching (Bruxism)
Teeth grinding and clenching, also known as Bruxism, is one of the leading signs of possible TMJ problems. This can severely damage your teeth and can also result in jaw problems and muscle aches.
Jaw clicking and/or pain
One of the other most common signs of TMD is a clicky jaw. This is due to the partial displacement of the articular disc. In some rare cases, this can also lead to jaw pain.
Locked Jaw
Yawning or opening wide can result in a locked jaw for some patients. If this happens to you – chances are that you have TMD.
Headaches
Symptoms of this include tightness in the cheek/jaw, headaches, neck aches, teeth pain (that can’t be localised)
Dizziness
Headaches and dizziness are generally the two inter-related symptoms of TMD.
Bite Problems
If your jaw is out of alignment, you may experience eventual bite problems as your teeth and jaws shift and compensate for the new bite.
Back or Neck pain
Although this is not always a sign of TMD, it generally accompanies many of the other symptoms.
Need help with your TMJ Treatment?
We have a variety of Payment Plans available – giving you the flexibility of paying for your TMD Treatment later.
Treatment options for TMD Pain
Inflammation of the muscles and joints can be treated with medication such as ibuprofen or warm application to the sore jaw muscles. In most cases where the problem is linked to grinding and clenching, an occlusal splint is all you need. Sometimes, sleep problems such as sleep apnoea can contribute to jaw pain.
In pain cases, a separate day and night splint is usually required to be worn for a period of time while the muscles and joint starts to heal. Physiotherapy is a great option if it is due to poor posture or strained jaw muscles. Exercises tend to help well in such cases.
Correcting your bite via orthodontics or doing orthopaedic (jaw positioning) therapy may be of help. In severe cases, a specialist may be required to intervene or even surgery may be required.
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Common Problems
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to see a specialist for my jaw pain?
Not all cases need to be referred to a specialist so we recommend you make a consult appointment to see if this is required.
My grinding mouth guard doesn't work for my jaw pain. Why?
There are many types of grinding guards. Each case requires careful diagnosis to ensure the correct guard is prescribed.
I've been diagnosed with TMD but I have no pain - do I need treatment?
In the absence of pain, we do not always recommend treatment. We occasionally recommend management of the problem so that your signs and symptoms do not get worse.