What is temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?

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Temporomandibular disorder is a condition that affects the “chewing” muscles and joints amidst the lower jaw and base of the skull. It is estimated that 30% of adults suffer from TMD at some point in their lives.

The condition is not usually serious and the symptoms it causes generally lasts only for a few months before the condition settles. Nevertheless, these symptoms can drastically disrupt with the quality of life and special treatment is needed if they are severe.

temporomandibular-disorder
Popping, clicking or grating sound when chewing or moving the mouth.

What are the causes?

The usual indications of temporomandibular disorder include:

  • Clenching of the jaw or grinding the teeth while sleeping – this overly strains the jaw muscles and places pressure on the joint
  • Jaw joint injury – this occurs after sustaining a direct blow or strike to the face or after surgery
  • Wear and tear of the interior part of the jaw joint – this is usually due to osteoarthritis
  • Uneven bite – if new dental crowns, fillings or dentures are fitted
  • Stress – some individuals might have increased sensitivity to stress or pain
  • Specific ailments – TMD might be linked with specific ailments such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia

What are the indications?

  • Popping, clicking or grating sound when chewing or moving the mouth
  • Muscle pain around the jaw
  • Migraine or headache
  • Ear pain in the front area that radiates to the cheek and temple
  • Difficulty in opening the mouth where the jaw feels tight and eating is difficult
  • Pain in other parts of the body such as back or neck pain

Take note that these symptoms might lead to other associated symptoms such as disrupted sleep.

Management of temporomandibular disorder

If an individual has temporomandibular disorder, a doctor should be consulted first for a diagnosis and suitable treatment options.

Generally, conservative measures such as lifestyle changes and self-help physiotherapy measures are used first. In some severe cases, the individual might be referred to a surgeon for further treatment options.

  • Mouth guards – these are useful if the individual grinds his/her teeth. They cover the teeth at night to lessen jaw clenching and teeth grinding
  • Medications – pain medications can be given to lessen the pain linked with temporomandibular disorder. If a stronger variant is needed, a muscle relaxant or antidepressant is given by the doctor.
  • Steroid injections – if the condition is due to arthritis, a steroid injection into the joint can lessen the discomfort and swelling in a joint or adjacent soft tissue.
  • Surgery – if the above measures fail to work and the source of the symptoms is the temporomandibular joint, surgery might be suggested such as arthrocentesis. If there is an abnormality inside the joint, open joint surgery might be considered in rare instances.

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