TMJ
TMD is the 2nd most common musculoskeletal pain syndrome affecting about 33% of the population.
What is TMJ?
The jaw joints or TMJs are made up of the head of the lower jaw (which is shaped similar to a ball), the housing the ball fits into (which is part of the upper jaw and skull), and a disc which cushions the jaw joint as it moves against the upper housing. The jaw joint complex is part of the chewing system which is made up of the muscles that control the function of the jaw joint, the teeth, the cervical spine, and the airway.
Common symptoms are a pain in front of the ear as well as in the ear or a “full” feeling in the ear, joint noise like grinding or clicking, popping, difficulty opening or deviations when opening and closing, flat or worn teeth, getting tired chewing, headaches, and neck pain to name the most common ones.
For years the usual treatment is a night guard and medication such as a muscle relaxer. This is often a band-aid for a larger problem.
Problems with the jaw joint can be from a simple discrepancy between how the teeth fit together and how the jaw seats in the socket, which usually becomes apparent during times of stress or in later stages of the breakdown process.
But far too often, jaw joint issues cross over into disease states, and are a result of inflammation that is either from systemic issues or from issues around force or pressure from the bite.
The teeth are the primary determinant of where the jaw joint is located. If the teeth wear down or if there are interferences in the closing path, such as after orthodontic care, restorative treatment, or due to changes in the jaw joint, there is a mismatch between the jaw joint complex and the teeth. This causes the jaw joint to begin to go through a remodeling process which will change the shape of the jaw joint.
If the body cannot keep up with this remodeling process, then the jaw will rapidly degrade and become diseased. This changes the shape of the jaw joint and the housing in the upper jaw, can cause clicking or popping jaw joints or joint noise, and can affect the cervical spine and airway as well as adversely change the way the teeth come together. This is called Degenerative Joint Disease. This can be caused by inflammation of systemic origin or due to biting forces.
Systemic issues can be hormone changes such as peri-pubertal and peri-menopausal or when hormone therapy is started, sometimes even birth control can affect these levels and induce TMJ disease. Other systems issues can be bone syndromes or diseases, issues with protein synthesis, small airway or sleep apnea, or common causes of inflammation such as food sensitivity or allergies (especially those undiagnosed) and gingivitis or periodontal disease.
Issues with the chewing system resulting in an increased force on the jaw joint structures can be from a displaced jaw joint disc, worn teeth, locking bite, trauma, dental restorations that are too high or act as interferences, orthodontics during or after can sometimes contribute to the development of TMJ disease, clenching and an unstable bite.
Some Misconceptions:
A night guard alone will stop my teeth from wearing down and from my TMJ getting worse.
TMJ is a rare disease — The fact is 35 million Americans have TMJ disorders and even more have the beginnings of TMJ such as worn teeth, neck pain, headaches, and much more.
TMJ or TMD is caused by accidents or injuries. If your upper and lower teeth aren’t balanced, a poor bite can cause your jaw to rest and function in an uncomfortable position or one that leads to breakdown. This can lead to clenching and grinding which is called bruxism. The pressure applied to the joint during bruxism is very great and causes remodeling.
TMJ / TMD needs to be treated surgically. The fact is there are many different treatments for TMJ/TMD disorders. From orthodontics, physical therapy, and to custom mouth guards in addition to minimally invasive treatments using composite or porcelain to stabilize the jaw joint and restore function to the chewing system.
If I have TMJ I should eat a soft diet. The fact is, chewing or function actually lubricates the jaw joint and disc complex. If there is pain it is important to begin a diagnostic process to uncover the cause of the pain and the status of the jaw joint and disc complex.
So what to do about it?
The best solution is to immediately detect and reverse the signs of breakdown in the chewing system at the current stage. Breakdown in the chewing system doesn’t stop on its own because we are always using our teeth and thus our jaw joints. Teeth are not only for chewing, but our teeth stabilize the jaw during sleep and during swallowing, which occurs between 900-2000 times during the day.
The first step in getting your life back from what is often debilitating TMJ disease is a diagnostic process to determine the current status of the jaw joint complex and chewing system. This will guide you and the doctor in understanding the causative factors and what options are available for your specific conditions and the outcome you want.
There are many different treatments for TMJ disease and the treatment that is right for you will be based on your unique condition, the condition of your teeth and gums, and your overall health.
In some cases, it is necessary for Dr. Edwards to form a team of health professionals to address your needs before, during, and after treatment for TMJ disease.
With advances in Dentistry and Medicine today, it is possible to not only treat TMJ disease, but have lasting health by restoring harmony between the teeth, the jaw joint, the neck, the airway, and the rest of the body.
If you are suffering from jaw joint issues or any of the symptoms of jaw joint disease, don’t hesitate to schedule a call with Dr. Edwards by calling 636-583-2612 or emailing him at office@optimadg.info