Things You Need To Know About TMJ Treatments

Temperomandibular Joint Disorder, known as TMJ is seldom heard of, but affects a lot of people and can have a big impact on a person’s life.  It occurs due to problems in the jaw, jaw joints and facial muscles that controls moving and chewing of the jaw. TMJ may be caused by various factors such as nail biting, teeth grinding, degenerative condition like arthritis or trauma to the particular area. Various symptoms of TMJ include difficulty or discomfort in chewing as well as moving the jaws, a clicking sound when opening the mouth or chewing, head ache, ear pain, hearing loss, unexplained pressure behind eyes, jaw pain, the ability to open or close the mouth decreases and a dull, aching pain in the face.

TMJ treatment varies based on the severity of the condition. Some individuals find better relief from a simple mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding while others have to resort on other medical treatments such as

Basic treatments:
The basic TMJ treatment includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, using a warm compression the affected area or consuming a soft food diet. These basic TMJ treatments provide temporary pain relief and do not treat the cause.

Advanced treatments:

Advanced TMJ treatment includes the use of TMJ splint or mouth guard. Probably, this is the first line of treatment provided by the specialist. The mouth guard or TMJ splint reduces the stress on the jaw and allows the facial muscles to function optimally and covers the deflective interferences that usually affect the bite, so that the lower jaw repositions itself in to the socket properly. There are various types of TMJ splints or mouth guards available but the best one for a particular patient will be decided based on the clinical findings, symptoms and other diagnostic tests.

Invasive treatments:

Several invasive techniques are used to treat TMJ conditions such as
• Injecting a corticosteroid injection into the joint helps relieve inflammation and pain and provides good relief. But long term use of corticosteroids may create other health problems like osteoporosis, to the patient.
• The first type of surgery done by a oral surgeon is called arthrocentesis. This procedure involves cleaning the jaw with a saline solution to remove any tissue adhesions and then reposition the disk in the joint hinge.
• The second type of invasive treatment is called arthroscopy, where the surgeon makes an incision at the temple point in from of the ear to insert an endoscope in to the surrounding areas thereby removing any adhesions or repositions the disc or treats inflammation accordingly.
• Another invasive technique is the open joint surgery. Open joint surgery is the only option that provides access to tumors, chipped bones, scarring or deteriorating bony structures.
Alternative Treatments:
Alternative TMJ treatments involve the use of radio wave therapy, TENS, ultrasound or trigger point injections. However, these alternative treatment methods provide only temporary relief from the symptoms and do not treat the root cause of the condition.

 TMJ condition is painful as well as frustrating. The right TMJ treatment approach should be identified through consultation with a TMJ specialist based on the clinical findings, its symptoms and diagnostic tests.