The temporomandibular joint or jaw joint, more commonly known as TMJ, is a small ball-and-socket joint that can affect the muscles of the face that help in chewing. Temporomandibular disorders are problems that affect this joint and are a general term, referring to several types of these disorders. Often people will not say they have a temporomandibular disorder but that they have TMJ. Farmington Hills residents can take advantage of our services at Scott J Owens DDS Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. We are able to offer treatments for various such jaw disorders.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders. Typically, there is tenderness or pain in the area in front of the ear, especially when opening the mouth wide, speaking or chewing. There can be spasms in the muscles of the face so that it is difficult to open the mouth or there is a feeling that the teeth do not meet as they should.
There can be popping, clicking or cracking sounds or a sensation of grating in the jaw when the mouth is opened or closed. The jaw can become stuck or feels like it is stuck. Finally, there is a tendency to get headaches that start in front of the ear and spread to the rest of the head or neck.
If you find that the movement of your jaw is limited, there is pain in your jaw that makes eating difficult or the swelling is in the area of your TMJ, then you should call us at Scott J Owens DDS Cosmetic & Family Dentistry and make an appointment so that we can examine you to determine if you have a temporomandibular disorder and treat you accordingly.
Treatment Options
There are several approaches to treating temporomandibular disorders, depending on their cause.
Sore muscles can be treated with a soft diet that avoids hard or crunchy foods; physical therapy; an occlusal guard or splint; prescription drugs to relax muscles and ease inflammation; and stress reduction therapy.
Should these measures fail, then arthroscopic surgery might be needed. More invasive surgery is done in cases only when the jaw locks and the obstructing disk needs to be removed.
At Scott J Owens DDS Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, our dental specialists will carefully examine you and determine the best treatment that can alleviate your facial pain and distress.
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