Management of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction, or TMD, is a disorder which has a vast variety of symptoms and causations. Symptoms range from popping, clicking, locking of the jaw, reduced mouth opening, headaches, neck pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or a number of related symptoms. Regarding causation, there is an exhaustive list, with the most common related to trauma (i.e. whiplash), microtrauma (i.e. poor occlusion/bite contributing to grinding), stress (psychological or physical), postural problems, nutrition, or hormonal variations.

The area of the TMJ is the area of the face that contributes to chewing, your occlusion (bite), and jaw movement. Therefore, TMD compromises jaw flexibility and may cause pain at rest or during common movements such as talking, chewing, or yawning. The first approaches towards addressing TMD should be conservative. One of the few ways of confronting TMD will be addressed in this article. Please contact an orthodontist or dentist to find out more information as needed per your condition.

In our practice, our treatment philosophy combines two phases of treatment. The initial phase incorporates splint appliance therapy combined with intensive physical medicine modalities (i.e. physical/massage therapists). A splint is a custom made mouthpiece that allows your facial muscles to relax, and many times, for your joint symptoms to dissipate. The use of this appliance also allows the doctor to better diagnose the causation of your symptoms by telling him or her, for example, if your symptoms are joint related versus muscle related. The second phase of treatment usually involves modification of the patient's occlusion (bite) via orthodontics , restorative dentistry, or any other necessary treatment depending on the patient's needs.

Outside of splint therapy and physical medicine, patients should also avoid extreme jaw movements like yawning or singing. Additionally, patients should chew softer foods and stay away from food requiring repetitive chewing or opening movements. In particular, avoid gum, biting into apples and large sub sandwiches, chewing ice, etc. Patients should also avoid keeping their mouths open for prolonged periods of time (i.e dental appointments)