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Do you notice clicking or popping when you open your mouth?
Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth? Does your jaw occasionally lock,
so it is stuck open or closed? If so, you should see your dentist for a
consultation and examination. You may have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
These disorders include problems of the chewing muscles, the jaw joint (called
the temporomandibular joint or TMJ), or both.
Here are some key symptoms linked to TMD.
Unusual sounds — Clicking, grinding or popping sounds when
you open your mouth are common in people with TMD. The sounds may or may not be
accompanied by pain. According to the National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research, researchers believe that most people with popping or
clicking in the jaw joint probably have a displaced disc. However, they also
note that as long as the displaced disc causes no pain or problems with jaw
movement, no treatment is needed.
Locking or limited movement — The jaw joint is similar to a
ball-and-socket joint except that the socket itself is movable. The jaw joint
sometimes may lock in an open or closed position. You may have difficulty
opening your mouth either because the joint is locked or because of pain.
"Ear" pain — You may think you have an ear
infection, but ear pain may be related to jaw joint inflammation or muscle
tenderness. Pain from TMD is usually felt in front of or below the ear.
Headaches — People with TMD often report headaches. Your
dentist can help to determine if your specific headache symptoms are a result
of TMD. In some situations, you may need to consult a physician to help
diagnose and treat certain headaches not related to TMD.
Morning stiffness or soreness — If your jaw muscles are
stiff and sore when you wake up, it may by a sign that you are clenching or
grinding your teeth in your sleep. Clenching or grinding teeth can exhaust jaw
muscles and lead to pain.
Difficulty chewing — You may have difficulty chewing as a
result of a change in your bite—the way your upper and lower teeth fit together.
This shift in your bite may be related to TMD.
Previous injuries and related conditions — A recent injury
to the jaw joint or one from many years past can lead to TMD symptoms.
Arthritis in the joint also may arise from injury. Arthritis already affecting
other joints may affect the jaw joint and lead to TMD.
Others — Though the research is controversial, a feeling of
fullness of the ears or ringing in the ears may sometimes be related to TMD. In
these cases, consultation with an "ear, nose and throat" physician
can help establish the final diagnosis.
If these symptoms sound familiar, talk to your dentist. Your
dentist will test your ability to open and close your jaw, examine other jaw
movements, and feel the jaw joint and muscles for pain or tenderness. The
dentist will listen with a stethoscope in front of the ear for any clicking,
popping or grinding sounds and will feel the jaw joint while you open and close
it.
X-rays are often taken to look at the jaw joint and to rule
out other diseases. In some cases, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be
needed to further examine the bony detail of the joint. In addition, magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) is sometimes recommended to analyze the soft tissues.
While it is advisable to discuss any TMD symptoms with your
dentist, occasional discomfort in the jaw joint and chewing muscles is quite
common and usually not a cause for concern. However, if you are diagnosed with
TMD, the good news is that simple self-care practices are highly effective in
relieving the discomfort. These include eating soft foods, applying heat or ice
packs and avoiding extreme jaw movements. Effective, conservative treatments
include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, physical
therapy and oral appliances.
Article from: Colgate Professional
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