Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder

Every person has two temporomandibular joints, which are the joints that open and close our mouths when speaking, eating, and swallowing. Each TMJ connects the jaw to the skull with numerous muscles and ligaments.

Symptoms of TMJ

With TMJ problems, these involve not only the joint but all related muscles, i.e., the muscles that move the jaw. Some of the most common symptoms of TMJ include:

• Pain in the head, face, ear, neck, throat, shoulder, and/or back
• Clicking, grinding, or popping noises from the jaw
• Difficulty opening the mouth wide
• Swelling on the side of the face
• Headaches, toothaches, neck aches, dizziness, earaches, and hearing issues
• Difficulty closing teeth together
• Pain behind the eyes

Oftentimes, the temporomandibular joints are not functioning correctly and have begun to cause pain. The jaw joint itself is a ball and socket, and when it is functioning properly, the ball and socket do not physically touch as they are cushioned by a thin disc of cartilage between them. This disc can often become displaced too far forward and cause the lower jaw to move too far back, causing pain in the surrounding nerves and blood vessels.

The complaints associated with this area vary - from popping and clicking sounds originating from the joints to different degrees of pain, sometimes more localized, sometimes hard to define.

Because this area is rich in nerves and because the fibres of the different muscles intermingle with each other, the sensation of pain often irradiates to areas remote to the TMJ - top of the head, neck, shoulders, and back.

Many people first go to visit physicians to obtain treatment for their ears, shoulders, and back. Some go through years of suffering and unnecessary anti-inflamatory or pain medication, without addressing the root problem.

Any treatment should include behavioral changes (not chewing gum for example), fabricating different types of splints for the patient to wear for a certain period of time, adjusting teeth surfaces, etc.

The treatment plan for each patient is developed individually, according to the patient's needs.

If you are feeling any of the above symptoms such as jaw pain, and are noticing an increased amount of popping or grinding noises in your jaw, contact York Street Dental Centre for a consultation. Our Cornwall dentists have a very positive experience of successfully treating pathological conditions associated with TMJ area.