TMJ Treatment

Do you have pain in your jaw? Do you have difficulty chewing? Is there a clicking sound when you open and close your mouth? You could be experiencing a disorder of the temporomandibular joint, or a TMJ disorder.

The temporomandibular joint is what connects your jawbone to your skull. You have one on each side of your jaw. These are complex joints that aid in eating, speaking, yawning, and swallowing. If something is wrong with the bones or the muscles in these joints, all these activities can be affected.

If you think you may have TMJ disorder, help is available. At Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics in Spokane, WA, we have solutions which can ease your pain. Keep reading to learn more about TMJ disorders and the treatment that can offer relief.

Your Temporomandibular Joint

Your TMJs are in front of your ears and are made up of the temporal bone (the side and base of the skull) and the mandible (the lower jaw). Within each joint are muscles, ligaments, and a disk. The bones of the jaw joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small disk which acts as a shock absorber. When everything works together smoothly, you are able to chew, talk, and swallow with no problem. You probably don't even think about it. However, if there are any issues with these structures, those activities can be painful, and your day-to-day life can be affected in a big way.

How to Know if You Have TMJ Disorder

There are multiple reasons your temporomandibular joint may become a problem. Some causes for issues with the TMJ are:

  • Disk movement or erosion
  • Joint cartilage damage due to arthritis
  • Damage to the jaw by a blow or an impact
  • Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
  • Disease of the connective tissues

It's time to seek help if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Pain/tenderness in your jaw
  • Pain in either or both of your jaw joints
  • Earaches/ringing in either or both of your ears
  • Difficulty with or pain when chewing
  • Facial pain
  • Pain behind eyes or in shoulders, neck, or back
  • Headaches
  • Locking of your jaw, making it difficult to open/close your mouth
  • Clicking or grating sounds when moving your jaw

Your dentist or prosthodontist will listen to your symptoms and perform a thorough exam to determine exactly what's going on with your TMJs and what can be done to return them to full working order.

Treatment for TMJ Disorder

If your dental care provider determines that you do, indeed, have a TMJ disorder, they will take many things into consideration when deciding what type of treatment would be best for you. Your age, your overall health, your tolerance for medication, and your ability to handle specific procedures or therapies will help guide you and your provider as you pick a course of action.

First, your provider might decide to try medication to resolve your issues. If over-the-counter pain medication doesn't do the trick, your dentist or prosthodontist may prescribe stronger pain relievers. Antidepressants are also an option, as at a low dose, they can be used for pain relief, bruxism control, and insomnia. If you're experiencing muscle spasms that are causing your pain, your dental care provider may opt for prescribing muscle relaxants.

Perhaps medication is not the answer. There are several therapies that do not involve any medicine. Custom oral splints or mouth guards may relieve pain in your jaw; these may be soft or firm, and you may need to try more than one to find one that works. Joint rest or a soft food diet may also be offered as a potential solution.

Physical therapy consisting of exercises to stretch and strengthen your jaw muscles may be what you need to take care of your pain. Other treatments such as ice therapy, heat therapy, or ultrasound therapy can also be employed to ease symptoms. Botox or corticosteroid injections delivered to joints and/or muscles may be helpful for relaxing your jaw and relieving pain.

If there are mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression, these may be a part of your TMJ pain. Counseling may help you to determine exactly what you're dealing with, and your therapist may be able to guide you in finding strategies to improve your mental health and, in turn, your TMJ symptoms.

TMJ Surgery

If none of the above treatments help with your TMJ disorder, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics may suggest some surgical options. The most common surgery to relieve TMJ symptoms is an arthroscopy. This outpatient, minor surgery is only mildly invasive and is performed under general anesthesia. In this procedure, the surgeon will make small incisions in front of the ear, right over the TMJs. A port called a cannula is inserted into the joint. The cannula can be used to see what's happening with the joint and through it, pain relief medication and/or steroids can be injected. After an inspection, the surgeon may choose to remove inflamed tissue that may be keeping the joint from working correctly.

In an extreme case, your prosthodontist may opt for an arthroplasty, or surgery to restore the function of a TMJ. In this moderately invasive surgery, the TMJ is either resurfaced to improve function or some or all the parts of the TMJ are replaced with artificial duplicates. At the same time, any bony growths, diseased bone, or excess tissue may be removed. After an arthroplasty, you will likely remain in the hospital for several days, and you will not be able to resume normal activities for a month or so. Full healing can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks.

Are You Struggling with TMJ Issues?

If you're suffering from symptoms which may indicate that you have a TMJ disorder, there's no reason to just live with it. You need to visit an expert as soon as possible. If you live in the Spokane, WA, area, consider contacting Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics. We are uniquely qualified to help.

We'll offer you a thorough examination, then sit down with you to discuss our diagnosis and your options. We won't quit until you're free of TMJ pain and discomfort and back to happy daily living!