What is TMJ Disorder and How is it Treated?

Are you experiencing pain or discomfort in your jaw, face or neck? TMJ Disorder could be what’s causing it—but what is it and how can you treat it?

In this guide, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of what TMJ Disorder is, some common causes, and the most suitable methods to treat the condition.

What is TMJ Disorder and What Causes It?

What it is

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to the skulls’ temporal bones, just in front of your ears. Like the hip joint, the TMJ is a ball and socket joint which is supported by four ligaments and a cushioning disk, which allows you to open and close your mouth and to eat and speak.

For various reasons, the TMJ can experience pain, tenderness and discomfort which can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to perform basic tasks such as chewing or even talking. In most cases, any pain or discomfort experienced in or around the jaw joint will be diagnosed as TMJ Disorder, also known as TMJD or simply TMD.

What Causes TMD?

A range of factors can contribute to the development of TMD, which can make it difficult for dentists and other medical professionals to identify the exact underlying cause.

Typically associated with muscle tightness and inflammation, TMD is commonly triggered by factors including:

structural jaw problems or jaw misalignment (known as malocclusion)
chronic teeth grinding or clenching (known as bruxism)
trauma or injury to the jaw
movement or erosion of the disk in the TMJ
poor posture which can strain the face and neck muscles
stress or anxiety
inflammatory conditions which can damage joint cartilage, such as arthritis
excessive gum chewing

Factors such as poor diet, lack of sleep and the use of orthodontic braces are also believed to contribute to the development of TMD.

Who Is at Most Risk of Developing TMD?

TMD is a very common disorder with between 60-70% of the population experiencing signs of the condition to some degree, however, the condition is most likely to affect:

adults aged between 20 and 40 years
women (women are at least four times more likely to experience TMD than men)
individuals suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
individuals with certain connective tissue diseases
individuals with a genetic predisposition to pain sensitivity and heightened stress responses.

While TMD is quite common, in most cases the severity of the condition is minimal, with only 5-12% of the population requiring medical treatment to treat its symptoms.

How Can You Tell If You Have TMJ Disorder?

TMD can present itself differently in each patient, however, the most common symptom of the condition is pain or tenderness in or around the jaw joint, which could be temporary or could last for many years.

Some other common symptoms of the condition include:

tightness, stiffness or muscle spasms in the jaw or neck
limited movement of the jaw
toothaches
pain in other areas of the face including the ears, neck, eyes or forehead
pain or difficulty when chewing

clicking, cracking or popping of the jaw (known as crepitus)
facial swelling (typically on one or both sides of the face)
headaches or migraines
hearing issues, including ringing or popping sounds in the ears (known as tinnitus)
numbness or tingling in the chin

In some cases, TMD can also cause blurred vision, dizziness or vertigo, shoulder pain and locking or dislocation of the jaw.

How is TMD Diagnosed?

As there aren’t any standard tests which can be used to diagnose TMD, your dentist or medical professional will usually check for symptoms of TMD, including swelling or tenderness in the jaw.

They should also consider your medical history to look for any factors which could be contributing to your condition. An X-ray, CT scan or MRI may also be requested to further examine the bones and joint tissues and check for any structural issues.

In some cases, it may be found that a patient’s symptoms are being caused by another condition such as trigeminal neuralgia, swollen lymph nodes, salivary gland disease, giant cell arteritis or something else.

Strategies to Prevent TMJ Disorder

Prevention is always better than a cure, and by avoiding some common triggers of TMD, you may be able to prevent the onset of the condition entirely.

Some things you can do to prevent TMD from developing include:

avoid excessive chewing by opting for soft foods as much as possible and steer clear of things like chewing gum
find ways to better manage your stress and anxiety levels
look for strategies to prevent teeth grinding and clenching, and
maintain correct posture to avoid straining facial and neck muscles

How Can You Treat TMJ Disorder?

Many cases of TMD are temporary in nature and will resolve on their own without ever requiring treatment. However, in cases where symptoms don’t subside on their own, medical intervention may be required.

There are several schools of thought among industry professionals about what is the best way to treat TMD—while some practitioners prefer to jump straight to prescribing traditional treatment methods which tend to be quite invasive and generally irreversible, most practitioners now prefer to attempt treating TMD using newer, less-invasive methods in the first instance before considering more invasive treatment methods.

The gentle approach to TMD therapy

In our experience, the symptoms of TMD can almost always be addressed using non or minimally-invasive nonsurgical treatment methods.

At Beacon Cove Dental, some of the gentle therapeutic treatments we often include in our patient’s TMD treatment plans include:

Dietary adjustments - Temporarily avoiding hard and chewy foods in preference of soft foods which are easy to eat to relieve pressure on the jaw and muscles
Hot or cold therapy - Applying hot or cold packs to the affected area can reduce inflammation and swelling and promote the faster repair of tissue
Gentle movements and stretches - Physical therapy exercises and stretching can provide relief from muscle spasm, while retraining the muscle fibres and aiding the healing process

Jaw massage - Massage is an effective way to promote circulation and minimise muscle spasm
Medication - Muscle relaxant injections (like what is used in cosmetic medicine) can provide relief to the jaw joint and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can treat inflammation
Dental splint or mouth guard - A custom-made bite guard worn at night can prevent teeth grinding and deter clenching to relieve pressure on the jaw

In most cases, these gentle therapeutic methods are enough to provide dramatic relief from TMD symptoms without the need for more invasive surgical or other treatments.

More aggressive ways to treat TMJ disorder

If after trying a range of gentle TMD therapies your dentist evaluates your condition and finds that additional treatment is required, there are a few treatment options they may consider, including:

In each case, these treatments are irreversible and are not guaranteed to effectively treat your symptoms. For this reason, you should always seek a second opinion before committing to one of these procedures.

Our Gentle Approach to Treating TMJ Disorder

At Beacon Cove Dental, we always adopt a gentle approach to treating TMJ Disorder.

Our team of experienced dentists always opt for more conservative methods of treatment in the first instance, only ever considering more invasive treatment options as a last resort if absolutely necessary.

With a highly personal approach and customised treatment plans, we’ll recommend the most suitable form of therapy to provide rapid and long-lasting relief from TMD symptoms based on your individual circumstances and medical history.

Find out more about our holistic dentistry clinic or contact us to arrange a consultation.