Tempro-Mandibular Joint
TMJ (Tempro-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome) is a condition created by the combination of a bad bite and stress.
The patient with TMJ (also referred to as TMD) usually experiences grinding of the teeth, jaw joint pain, headaches, ringing in the ears, or any number of other related symptoms.
Sometimes, in severe cases, the person with TMJ will be unable to open his or her mouth wide, or will hear clicking, cracking or a "pop" upon opening.
Often, patients report the onset of TMJ occurring with some sort of unusual stress, such as final exams, or job-related issues, or a severe blow to the jaw, such as from athletics or an automobile accident.
Sometimes these patients will seek treatment from their general physician, or an "ear-nose-and-throat" specialist, before coming to the dentist to be seen.
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Understanding TMJ
To understand TMJ, it's helpful to know a little bit about the joint
itself.
The Tempro-Mandibular Joint has two main components:
1. The major muscle group.
The major muscles involving the TMJ are the masseter and the
temporalis. When these large muscles are in spasm, the patient is often
unable to open their mouth, and is sometimes in excruciating pain. This
can lead to neck pain, dizziness and many other related symptoms.
2. The minor muscles.
A closer look at the joint itself reveals various ligaments, smaller muscle
groups and a piece of cartilage known as the meniscus. It is this
meniscus, which normally acts as a buffer between the jaw and the skull, that
gets damaged during TMJ difficulties. The click or pop that patients hear when
they open their mouths wide is due to an injury to this cartilage.
Treatment Options
Treatment for TMJ can involve one or more of the
following:
Bite adjustment (known as occlusal equilibration)
The making of a night guard
Stress reduction practices
Prescription medications for muscle relaxation or pain.
When treated early, TMJ can be controlled and the potential damage to the teeth and jaw joint can be minimized.
When left untreated, TMJ can erode the health of the jaw joint, prevent proper
chewing, and cause looseness of teeth.
Resources and Links
A very useful resource for more information about TMJ can be found at
TMJ. This Web site is dedicated
exclusively to TMJ conditions and treatment solutions.
Another excellent resource is about
Craniofacial
Pain at This Web site has
a ton of information on TMJ and TMD. And, for those who don't live near our
Facemirror Dental Clinic, Your online dental office, there is a directory of other dentists
nationwide whom you may contact for an examination.For detail you can
send me email . An herbal product called Forever Bright
(sparkling aloe toothgel ) is available as toothpaste. Your teeth will gleam
with Forever Bright, one of the best toothgel on the market.
An herbal product called Serenitol
https://www.serenitol.com is available for systemic relief. This supplement is
designed to relax muscles and is apparently useful for TMJ and sleep
disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
Another product, TheraFlex TMJ
https://www.nabobrx.com
is now available for muscle relaxation and TMJ relief. I have not used this with
any patients yet, but am meeting with the sales representative soon and will
have a full report within a few days.
Questions?
Or you may
contact me online,
and I
will try to get back to you within 24 hours.
Or, call our office at 0803-318-1698 and make an
examination appointment. Call today!
Dr.Wale Adeleke
P. S. For even more information...
Please visit our patient education page,
select either "Patient Education" or "Dental Health Guides," and type either TMJ or TMD
into the search box.
Do you have any questions about TMJ? Just
email me through the link below, and I will be glad to answer your questions promptly.
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