TMD (temporomandibular disorder)

A radiographic and clinical examination helps determine the source of pain.

TMD is a complex disorder that could be a combination of multiple fractures. The causes can include arthritis, trauma, and anatomic variants of the joint cavity. Muscular pain or myofacial pain is the most common type of pain and this could be due to habits such as clenching and grinding or to compensate for the discomfort in the joint due to other causes.

Myofacial pain is the most common problem is clenching or teeth grinding which causes enlargement of the muscles around the jaw. Enlarged muscles along with regular clenching and grinding can overload your joint which can cause pain and tenderness in the musculature.

Internal derangement: The anatomy is the joint can be affected. A cushion between the jaw joint called the disc be inflamed and torn due to excessive load. 

Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can affect the joint. Medical management to control the progression and monitoring the changes is part of managing systemic conditions that affect the jaw joint.

Trauma 

Trauma to the jaw joint with or without fractures can affect the growth of the jaw joint. Monitoring the changes in growing patients is critical because the facial bones can be affected.

The diagnosis of the cause of your pain is critical. Myofacial pain and internal derangement is treated differently. Conservative measures are attempted first. These include soft diet, night guard, anti-inflammatory medication and warm compress around the jaw joint. Additional images such as an MRI can be necessary. Botox, viewing the joint with a camera (arthroscopy), flushing the joint out (arthrocentesis), joint replacement, orthognathic (jaw) surgery to stabilize the bite are treatment modalities to improve joint health.

Song Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts in TMJ diagnosis and treatment. Please call our office for an evaluation.