Temporomandibular disorders
The temporomandibular joints are the connectors between the skull’s temporal bones and the (lower) jaw. There are two temporomandibular joints on each side of the face, right in front of the ears. The ligaments, tendons, and muscles that support the joints are the structures that enable jaw movement.
Issues generally cause temporomandibular diseases in the muscles or joints of the jaw or in the connective tissue that links them.
The afflicted individual experiences a headache and a painful reaction to the touch of the chewing muscles; clicking in the jaw joints may also be detected.
Doctors or dentists may typically identify these illnesses by conducting a medical history and physical examination, although an imaging test is occasionally required.
Treatment comprises self-help and physician-directed measures, oral appliance (splint) treatment, and pain management.
Temporomandibular disorders are most frequent among women in their 20s and 40s, and 50s; In rare circumstances, newborns are born with abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint. Temporomandibular diseases include difficulties with the joints, muscles, and the bands of fibrous tissue that link them (fasciae).
Jaw dislocation, a dental emergency, is defined by a wide-open mouth and discomfort that makes it impossible to return to a closed mouth posture (tooth close together).
A variety of factors causes temporomandibular diseases.
A combination of muscular stress and structural issues inside the joints may cause the disfuncion temporomandibular (temporomandibular disorder). Other variables, as well as a psychological component, are sometimes involved. Symptoms may be caused by teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism), systemic disorders, infections, traumas, dental misalignment, or continually chewing gum. There are specific reasons for this.
Congenital and developmental abnormalities cause aplasias, hypoplasia, and hyperplasia.
Malocclusions: if the occlusion is off, the temporomandibular joint’s cartilage may be damaged, resulting in muscular pain, migraines, and, over time, jaw dysfunction.
Anatomical, condylar changes, anterior disc displacement, and disc dislocations are condyle-disc disorders.
Infections caused by metabolic disorders-
- Condylar subluxation is a disc dislocation with or without disc displacement caused by ligament laxity and weakening. Excessive and continuous mouth opening might cause it over time. When shutting the mouth creates discomfort and difficulties.
- diseases of the nervous system
- Myofascial discomfort, myositis, spasms, and contractures are all symptoms of muscular diseases.
- Dental loss:As dental components are lost; the maxillofacial bone starts to deteriorate. This might lead to joint difficulties in the long run.
- Trauma:Trauma may result in joint fractures, rips, or breaks.
- Neoplasms
- Osteoarthritis
- Adhesions between the disc and the condyle and the disc and the fossa
- Ankylosis is a lack of joint mobility caused by the fusion of the bones inserted in the joint or the calcification (calcium deposit in the tissues) of the ligaments surrounding it. Ankylosis is most often caused by injury or infection; however, it may also be inherited or caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
- physical exhaustion
- Stress or depression may physically impact the joint structure, causing teeth to grind (also known as bruxism).
- Inflammatory problems in the joint may cause capsulitis and synovitis.
TMJ is treated in a variety of ways at the Craniomandibular Institute-
Jaw discomfort might go away on its own or with very little therapy. Simple treatments, such as eating soft meals or using ice, might cure the condition. However, it may also need the use of pain medications or oral devices. Each patient’s condition will be assessed by the dentist, who will then propose conservative treatments or surgery:
conservative therapies-
- Stabilization splints:These devices deprogram, adjust sensory input, lessen activity, and, as a result, muscular discomfort caused by persistent mandibular pressure.
- Physiotherapy:When combined with dental treatment, specific proper physiotherapy procedures may help patients improve their quality of life.
Surgical procedures-
- Arthrocentesis:A joint lavage is done using two intra-articular needles to remove all tiny particles, and then a fluid is injected to assist lubricate the joint.
- Arthroscopy:A surgeon may implant an intra-articular camera (arthroscope) to study the joint, remove inflammatory tissue, and manipulate the structures.
- Joint replacement:If the condition is causing significant functional impairment and conservative therapies aren’t working, the treatment plan calls for the joint to be replaced with a prosthesis.
- Open surgery:If the patient has a tumor in the joint, the expert may need to do open surgery on the joint so that the specialist may enter the inside and remove the damaged tissue.
