Have you ever experienced pain around your jaw, difficulty opening your mouth, or a clicking sound when chewing? These could be signs of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
What is TMJ?
The TMJ is the joint that facilitates the connection between the upper and lower jaws. The TMJ connects the lower jaw to the cranial bones of the skull, making it crucial for speech, chewing, and opening and closing the mouth. Disorders of this joint are known as TMJ disorders (TMD).
Symptoms of TMJ Disorders
Some of the symptoms that are often felt include:
- Pain around the jaw
- Headache, facial or neck pain
- Ear pain and ringing in the ears
- Limited mouth opening
- Jaw feels stiff or locked
- The “click” sound when opening the mouth and chewing
- Pain when chewing, talking, yawning or when opening and closing the mouth
The causes of TMJ disorders can be caused by various things, including:
- Jaw injury or trauma
- Emotional stress
- Parafunctional habits (teeth grinding , nail biting, chin propping)
- Unbalanced tooth contact relationship
TMJ Therapy
In order to improve the symptoms of TMJ that arise, several therapies can be carried out, including:
- Self-care at home
- Apply warm and cold compresses to the jaw area
- Limit consumption of hard and difficult to chew foods
- Limit opening your mouth too wide
- Jaw relaxation exercises - Physiotherapy
- Drug therapy (pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants)
- Occlusal appliance therapy
- Making denture prostheses
- In more severe conditions, surgery may be performed.
- Education
TMJ disorders can indeed disrupt daily activities, but with proper examination and therapy, it will help reduce and eliminate pain and restore optimal jaw function.
If you're experiencing jaw pain, don't wait until it worsens. Consult Dr. Alda Arifialda, Sp. Pros (Dentist Specialist in Prosthodontics at EMC Sentul Hospital) immediately for appropriate treatment.