If you experience the following problems:
- Jaw pain when chewing, opening mouth
- Pain in chewing muscles: pain in the angle of the jaw, pain in the temples, pain in the lower jaw
- May have pain in the muscles of the back of the neck, neck or arms
- Temporomandibular joint pain: pain in front of the ear, pain in the ear
- Tinnitus
- Open your mouth and make a creaking or crunching sound
- Limited mouth opening, lopsided mouth opening
- If you open your mouth, you can’t close it, or if you close your mouth, you can’t open it
- Chewing is difficult
- May hurt the teeth, especially molars
Then you are suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (temporomandibular joint dysfunction).
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Where is the temporomandibular joint located and what function does it have?
The temporomandibular joint (TDH) is the only movable joint in the human skull, located close to the ear, near the temple. The temporomandibular joint is composed of a cartilaginous articular disc located between two condylar bones, around the joint socket there is a system of ligaments and facial muscles. The temporomandibular joint functions to help move the jaw such as opening the mouth, eating, chewing, talking…
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Why do you have temporomandibular joint dysfunction?
Misaligned bite: teeth grinding, crowded teeth, protruding teeth, underbites, stuck or hidden wisdom teeth, etc., affecting the harmony of movement of the temporomandibular joint and chewing muscles, thereby leading to TDH joint dysfunction.
Injury: When practicing sports, or having an accident in the face that causes the temporomandibular joint to be hit hard or the patient yawns too loudly, causing trauma to the TDH joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis: This disease affects small and medium joints in the body, including the TDH joint.
Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease affects all movable joints in the human body, so the TDH joint is also a joint prone to degeneration.
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Treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction
When there are signs of TDH joint dysfunction, you need to go to a specific doctor, the doctor may order you to take a lateral skull x-ray, take 3D movies and do other subclinical diagnoses to confirm the specifics. Causes and extent of TDH joint damage. Then, the doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment according to the cause of the disease.
Internally medical treatment
Medical treatment or drug treatment is mainly symptomatic. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor will prescribe you different medications to ease the uncomfortable symptoms you’re dealing with.
Adjustment of temporomandibular joints
If you have limited opening of your mouth or are unable to close your mouth due to a misalignment, your doctor will perform a chiropractic adjustment so that you can return to normal movement of your lower jaw. However, this is only the initial treatment step. After chiropractic, the doctor will perform more intensive treatment to rule out the cause of TDH joint dysfunction.
Physical therapy
Physiotherapy including massage measures, warm compresses are supportive treatment measures to increase circulation in the joint area, helping to improve pain symptoms. Physical therapy is not the mainstay of treatment for TDH joint dysfunction.
Mandibular mobilization or rehabilitation exercises play an important role in patients with TMJ dysfunction receiving surgical intervention.
Wear a chewing gum
Chew trough is an appliance placed between two dental arches, usually made of transparent bioplastic and can be removed by the patient. Troughs are used to help relax muscles and reposition joints.
Chew trays are worn from 6 weeks to 3 months depending on the severity of the disease. Your doctor will adjust the aligner at each appointment so that it matches the progress of your muscle and joint adjustment
Sharpen bite correction
After wearing the chewing tray, the doctor will grind and adjust the bite, so that when the upper and lower teeth bite together, the condyle of the lower jaw is in the correct position in the socket, which has been determined. after wearing the chewing tray; At the same time, when the lower jaw moves during chewing, it still ensures the stable operation of the TDH joint.
Reconstruction of the total bite with dental prosthetics or braces
In case the patient has a severe malocclusion that cannot be treated with occlusal grinding, the bite will be reconstructed with prosthetic solutions, braces or orthopedic surgery.
Endoscopic surgery
Arthroscopic surgery is indicated when there is no response to conservative measures (no surgical intervention).
Joint replacement surgery
Joint replacement surgery is the last resort when all other surgical methods fail. Joint replacement surgery is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia.
Treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction at Sparkle Dental Clinic
At Sparkle Dental Center, we perform the treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction related to occlusal deviations. Coming to us, you will be examined, evaluated and advised on the right treatment method for your case.