In New York, a man experiencing a chronic headache suddenly showed up in a dentist’s office. He was devastated when he explained that not even a single doctor was able to solve his problem.
Fortunately, this dentist identified the problem to be TMJ or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, a lower jaw problem which fortunately is treatable. Various physicians misdiagnosed TMJ as arthritis in a facial and neck pain, terrible earaches, and irritating sinus pain of three women who were affected by this problem. The TMJ condition is forgotten most of the time which is a bad thing because this condition has the ability to imitate a vast variety of symptoms and sickness. Victims suffering from TMJ dysfunction experience various symptoms as they seek answers from doctor to doctor. In some, the inability to close or open the mouth is one of the functional problems. In few, there only may be pain similar to migraine, sinus problems, atypical facial pain imitating a tic douloureux or a temporal arteritis, or neck and shoulder pain. On a different note, others may feel no pain but will experience dizziness, ear ringing or tinnitus, or subjective hearing loss.
The truth is that it is not neurosis that causes the pain but it’s the pain that makes them neurotic. The temporomandibular joint is in front of the ear, where the lower jaw or mandible hinges to the skull. 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.
Teeth clenching or gnashing is unconsciously done by people under tension appears to be one of the most common causes. The joint causes pains when the equilibrium of muscles and ligaments that control movement is being affected. Muscle spasms will be felt due to a painful state. If the pain shoots out, it then radiates from small areas of great sensitivity called trigger areas within muscles.
Trigger areas in the TMJ muscle system can produce dull ache or stabbing pain not just around the jaw and the teeth but virtually anywhere in the head and in the neck and shoulders. Patients may have reason to suspect when jaw or other pain is relieved with opening of the mouth but becomes worse on chewing, speaking, and brushing the teeth, when the jaws are found clenched upon awakening, or when there is awareness of tooth grinding in moments of concentration.
To help pinpoint TMJ dysfunction, tests which he says can be done by any physician or dentist in a minute. One involves simply listening by ear, or with a stethoscope for any clicking or crepitus noises, like walking on gravel when the jaw is moved. As for some, they include feeling the TMJ on each side as well as the muscles to be able to detect any spasm.
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.
Applying moist heat for 10 minutes thrice daily to both sides of the face is advised to patients for them to combat spasm as well as eating soft foods often. TMJ dysfunction has been attended to by many hospitals and dental schools recently for these institutions have build up special clinics specifically for TMJ. A broader segment of doctors and dentists now recognizes the significance of the TMJ problem.
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