Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the jawbone to the skull. Their main components are muscles, nerves, and bones. They let you move your jaw up and down, side to side so that you can talk, chew, and yawn.
TMJ disorders can affect head and neck region, ligaments (connective tissue that connects bones to other bones) teeth, cheeks, lips and salivary glands. Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders can include pain not only in the joint region but also in jaw, eyes, ears, nose and throat area.
CAUSES
- Severe tooth grinding/clenching, lip or fingernail biting, constant gum chewing
- Physical injuries,
- Bad posture,
- Extreme fatigue and tiredness in jaw muscles,
- Long-term dental treatments,
- Excessive opening of the mouth under general anaesthesia,
- One side masticatory movement with chewing gum,
- Systemic diseases,
- Psychological and psychiatric factors,
- Disharmony between tooth position and tooth/maxillary crowding.
SYMPTOMS
- Pain in the jaw, face or neck caused by tooth grinding/clenching,
- Pain and pressure in one or both of the temporomandibular joints through the ears, neck, teeth, even nose and eyes,
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness and fatigue,
- Restricted movement in the jaw (making it difficult to chewing your food, and making you feel like your jaw is locked; clicking, grating and popping sounds when you move your jaw),
- Pain and discomfort when you yawn and/or chew,
- Improper alignment of the teeth and the jaw,
- Pain, fatigue, swelling on the temple area.
TREATMENT
To treat your TMJ disorder, your dentists can create a customized treatment plan to meet your individual needs.