What is TMJ?
TMJ are conditions that affect your jaw joints and the surrounding muscles. These conditions can cause a variety of problems, including jaw pain, headaches and difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
You have two temporomandibular joints (TMJs), one on each side of your face, just in front of your ears. Your TMJs connect your lower jawbone to your skull and help with movements such as chewing and speaking.
Types of TMJ disorders
Health care providers divide TMJ disorders into three categories:
Disorders of your jaw joints.
Disorders of your chewing muscles.
Headaches caused by TMJ.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorders?
TMJ symptoms are quite variable and can include
jaw pain
Facial pain
Shoulder or neck pain.
Stiffness in your jaw.
Difficulty opening or closing your mouth.
Jaw popping or clicking.
headache
migraine _
ear pain
toothache
ringing in your ears
malocclusion
What is the main cause of TMJ problems?
There is no single cause of TMJ. Rather, it can be the result of many different factors or a combination of factors.
TMJ causes may include:
Jaw injury (such as a broken or dislocated jaw).
Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism).
Arthritis in your jaw joint.
Malocclusion (when your teeth do not fit together exactly as they should).
Stress .
Things that make TMJ problems worse
Using your teeth as tools (such as tearing clothing labels).
Poor posture (this can put excessive stress on your neck, shoulder and facial muscles).
Chewing pens, pencils or other objects (a common “nervous habit” behavior).
Chewing on ice or chewing gum excessively.
Taking large bites of food (this can overwork your jaw muscles).
Teeth clenching or grinding during the day.
Sleeping on your stomach.
Treatment options
Patient education and preventive treatment
Physiotherapy
Medication
Splint treatment (Night Plates, NTI-tss treatment)
Intra-articular injections (Steroid, Na Hyaluronate etc.) and lavage
Manipulation under general anesthesia
Surgery (arthroscopic surgery, arthrocentesis, discectomy, disc repair, etc.)
Advanced treatment (rheumatological, endocrinological, ear, nose and throat complaints, psychiatric supportive treatment, etc.)
