A man with chronic head pain turned up in the office of a New York City dentist. He had sought help unsuccessfully, he explained, from an internist, a neurologist, a nose and throat specialist, and an orthopaedic surgeon.
The dentist assured this man’s lower jaw problem called TMJ or temporomandibular joint dysfunction can be solved. The same problem was liable for the misdiagnosis of the neck and facial pains of a Virginia woman as arthritis, as well as the seeming earache and sinus pain of other women. The public disregards the reality that 20 percent of the population is affected by TMJ, also known as the great imposter for its amazing feature to replicate a broad range of diseases and symptoms. Victims seek doctors who can provide solutions for their unrelated symptoms of TMJ dysfunction. With this, problems such as the inability to open or close the mouth are felt by these victims. In addition, only selected people may feel pains that resemble migraine, sinus problems, atypical facial pain imitating a tic douloureux or temporal artiritis, or a shoulder or neck pain. If others do not feel any pain, they will experience dizziness, tinnitus or ear ringing, or even subjective hearing loss in the process.
In reality, neurosis does not cause the pain but it’s the pain that makes them neurotic. The lower jaw or mandible rests against the skull where the temporomandibular joint is located in front of the ear. A simple blow to the head or jaw or from opening the jaw too wide when biting or yawning may result to the joint getting out of adjustment.
One of the most common causes is clenching or gnashing the teeth when under tension or stress. The equilibrium of muscles and ligaments that control movement in the joint is upset once it is affected. A painful state may be in response such as muscles go into spasm or in an involuntary contraction. Now the pain may reach a distance allowing small areas of great sensitivity to radiate called trigger areas within muscles.
Not only in the mouth area that the trigger areas of TMJ muscle system spreads unbearable pain but as well as in the head, neck, and shoulders. Patients are confused for they feel terrible pains when they chew, speak, or brush their teeth but when they simply open their mouths, the pain is eased.
To make things quicker in pinpointing TMJ dysfunction, he says that the tests can be conducted by any dentist or physician. This can be done upon listening for any clicking or creptitus noise when the jaw moves. To be able to check if spasms are present, some feel the muscles as well as the TMJ on each side.
To bring back balance, in some cases, the use of jaw muscles would be of great help. Aside from their effort to chew, simple exercises may be asked of them. First one would be to place the tip of the tongue at the back on the roof of the mouth while mouth is opened. Next would be to move jaw a few times away from the weak side to strengthen the muscles.
Mostly eating soft foods and applying moist heat to both sides of the face for 10 minutes thrice a day would help a patient combat spasm. Many hospitals and dental schools have now shown their concern for TMJ dysfunction by setting up special clinics. A broader segment of doctors and dentists now recognizes the significance of the TMJ problem.
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