How We Can Help with TMJ Disorder Prevention

TMJ is a pain in your jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. When it first occurs, many patients simply wait for it to go away on its own, or try home remedies, but oftentimes the pain will persist and even get worse. As with any health issue, it’s always a good idea to see a professional like Central Florida Periodontics, who specializes in TMJ Disorder prevention.

What Is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint is like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders can result in pain in your jaw joint, and in the muscles that control jaw movement. While the cause of TMJ is still unknown, scientists believe the symptoms can be attributed to problems in the jaw muscle or joints. Symptoms of TMJ generally include pain or tenderness of your jaw, pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints, aching pain in and around your ear, and difficulty chewing or pain while chewing. TMJ disorders can also cause a clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew. Understanding the symptoms is important to understanding the condition, and being able to identify if you should see a periodontist for TMJ Disorder prevention.

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Treatment

Sometime the symptoms of TMJ go away on their own, but it’s always a good idea to consult an experienced periodontist for an expert opinion. medical treatment may be required. Your doctor may fit you with a splint, or bite plate, that fits over your upper and lower teeth, designed to reduce clenching or grinding at night, and thereby ease muscle tension. Options such as cortisone shots are also considered an effective way to relieve inflammation and pain.

Here are some other procedures commonly used to treat TMJ.

Arthrocentesis 

This is a minimally invasive procedure involving the insertion of small needles into the joint, so fluid can be irrigated through the joint to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts. This often proves to be an effective way of alleviating the symptoms of TMJ.

TMJ arthroscopy

Arthroscopic surgery can sometimes be as effective for treating various types of TMJ disorders as open-joint surgery. This procedure involves a small thin tube being placed into the joint space and inserting an arthroscope. Though TMJ arthroscopy has a few limitations, there are also fewer risks and complications than open-joint surgery.

Modified condylotomy

Modified condylotomies address TMJ Disorder indirectly, with surgery on the mandible but not the joint itself. If locking is one of the primary symptoms, it can be very helpful for alleviating pain.

Open-joint surgery

If your symptoms do not resolve with more conservative treatments or home remedies, and your doctor believes a structural problem in the joint may be the culprit, open-joint surgery may be suggested to repair or replace the joint. This option does, however, involve more risks than other procedures, and should only be considered after a thorough discussion of the pros and cons.

If you’re looking to address the symptoms of TMJ Disorder, why not reach out to the periodontists who specialize in TMJ Disorder prevention? Contact Central Florida Periodontics to make an appointment today.