 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Jaw joint dysfunctionPublished by BUPA's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, January 2008. This factsheet is for people who have jaw joint problems, or who would like information about them, especially a condition called temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Many people suffer from headaches, facial pain and/or jaw clicking. Sometimes this is because of problems with the jaw joint. Jaw joint problems affect about 40 percent of people at some time in their life. The condition most commonly affects young women.
What is temporomandibular dysfunction?The medical name for the jaw joints are the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). You have two TMJs, just in front of your ears where your lower jaw bone (mandible) meets your skull. The joints allow you to open and close your mouth, and move it from side to side or backwards and forwards. These movements are brought about by muscles and ligaments that surround the joints. Each joint is made up of part of the surface of each bone - the jaw and the skull - surrounded by a capsule. One side of the capsule is made of a ligament called the lateral ligament. Between the two bones is a disc of fibrous tissue which helps your jaw to move smoothly.
One common problem is temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), where the muscles in your jaw become more tense than usual. There are various other problems that can cause pain in your jaw, as well as clicking, stiffness and spasms (trismus). If you have had teeth removed, particularly from the back of your mouth, your remaining teeth may not meet properly and cause jaw problems. If you have dislocated your jaw in the past or had another jaw injury, this could also cause pain later. SymptomsYour symptoms may include:
You may find that your symptoms are worse during activities such as chewing and yawning. They may also be worse if you are stressed. CausesA number of things can lead to TMD. Some of the most common causes are:
Any pain in your jaw is likely to be caused by your muscles tightening up. You may grind or clench your teeth when you are asleep and so be unaware that you do it. This may be the cause if your symptoms are worse when you wake up. Alternatively, if the pain gets worse during the day, it may be because you are clenching or grinding your teeth while you are concentrating at work. Your symptoms may be caused by a problem with just the muscles of your jaw, or with the ligaments and cartilages that surround it as well. Clicking or other joint noise is likely to be a result of the ligaments in your jaw joint having been overstretched, perhaps because of opening your mouth too wide. The cartilage moves forwards out of its usual position when you open your mouth - the clicking is made when it moves back into place as you close your mouth. The noise may seem louder to you because the joint is close to your ear. Your jaw may lock if the cartilage does not return to its usual position after slipping out of place. DiagnosisYour dentist will usually be able to diagnose jaw joint problems by asking you about your symptoms. He or she needs to find out what is causing your problems so as to advise you on the most suitable treatment. Your dentist will examine your jaw joint and look at your teeth for signs of wear due to grinding. This will involve checking the way that you open and close your mouth and feeling the muscles around the area to see if they are tender. Your dentist may also ask you if you are feeling stressed or anxious because this may be making any grinding or clenching worse. TreatmentTreatment depends on the type of jaw joint problem you have. Usually your dentist will be able to help relieve your symptoms with simple treatments. He or she will explain the problem to you and give you advice on anything you can do to reduce pain or clicking, such as stifling yawns and eating soft foods that don't need too much chewing. Your dentist may recommend some physiotherapy exercises for you to do at home. It's important that you practise these as you have been shown. You may wish to take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol to help ease the pain. Always follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice. Your dentist may also suggest using a heat pad such as a hot water bottle (filled with warm but not boiling water) wrapped in a cloth or towel. If stress is causing your symptoms, you may find that counselling and relaxation therapy are helpful. If your dentist thinks that you are clenching or grinding your teeth at night then he or she may advise you to wear a mouth splint or mouthguard. This is a cover made from hard or soft plastic that fits over your upper or lower teeth. The aim of the splint is to decrease grinding and pressure on your teeth. You will probably need to wear this in the evenings and at night (or during the day if this is when you grind your teeth) for four to six weeks before your dentist is able to see if it has made any improvement. You may notice a reduction in pain sooner than this. It's very likely that following these measures will relieve your symptoms. However, if they don't, your dentist may refer you to a specialist. The specialist may prescribe stronger painkillers or other medication to help relieve the pain. If necessary, he or she may give you a short-term prescription for medicines which are usually used to treat depression - this is because certain antidepressants also cause your muscles to relax. Always follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine and ask your dentist for advice. It's rare, but in a very few cases your specialist may recommend you have an operation on your jaw joints. However, it's important to talk through all of the options with him or her before going ahead with any surgery. Further information
Sources
This information was published by BUPA's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Jason Leitch, BDS FDS DDS MPH, lecturer/honorary consultant at the University of Glasgow Dental School and fellow of the Health Foundation/Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and by BUPA doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. Publication date: January 2008. Expected review date: January 2010.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![Print-friendly version [opens in a new window]](/images/icons/icn_printer.gif){kind=icon}
|
|
|
||||
 |
 |
|||||
| ||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|