TMJ - Know The Syndrome To Be Safe

There is currently estimated to be over 35 million people in the United States who are suffering with TMJ. The majority of them are women in their child bearing years although doctors still do not understand why this segment of the population is targeted. 

Because the cause of Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome is unknown and the symptoms can vary widely from person to person, there is no standard test to diagnose it. Instead it is often diagnosed by ruling out other conditions that mirror symptoms similar to this such as ear infections, sinus infection, facial neuralgia and headaches. Ruling out these medical conditions can help a doctor rule in it. 

The first step in treating this syndrome is for a doctor to get a thorough medical history and then do a physical exam to look for symptoms such as pain in the jaw, limited jaw opening, muscle tenderness and noises such as jaw popping. In seeking medication, it is highly recommended that patients seek out a conservative plan with the goal to control it not eradicate the problem. 

A conservative plan does not involve any permanent changes in the structure or position of the jaw or teeth. The most widely used short term cure is the use of stabilization splint or a bite guard. This is a plastic guard that fits over the upper or lower teeth and should only be prescribed for short term use only. If the pain increases or gets worse with the use of a bite guard the use of it should be discontinued. 

Other options include the use of anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, Motrin or Tylenol to help with some relief. For worst cases, an over the counter medicine can help, a doctor can prescribe prescription pain relievers.

Sufferers can do some things to help find some relief with self care treatment options. Self care treatment options include a diet of soft foods and avoiding anything that requires excessive use of the jaw muscles such as gum chewing, in order to give the jaw a chance to rest and recover on its own. The use of alternative heat packs and ice packs after gentle exercises to stretch the jaw muscles has also been shown to help in recovery.

Irreversible treatment options such as surgery are generally not recommended due to the fact that there is no cure for TMJ and invasive surgery can make TMJ worse. Surgery is primarily for patients with a birth defect that involves a malformed jaw or patients who have loose fragments of bone in their Temporomandibular joint. The majority of people will not fall into this category. 

The treatment goal should be pain relief not an attempt to cure it. Some irreversible treatments may come with a promise to cure and eliminate it but so far no studies have proven that any orthodontic changes are effective. 

Some of these procedures which include orthodontics to change the bite, crown and bridge work to balance the bite or grinding down the teeth to bring the bite into balance have not turned out to be the miracle cure hoped for and instead often they only make the pain worse, not better.