Effective TMJ Treatment

If you are suffering from headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, upper neck pain or facial pain, you could be afflicted by a TMJ or temperal-mandibular joint disorder. About 10 million people suffer from this dysfunction of the jaw and associated joints. TMJ may develop due to lost or crooked teeth, an overbite, degenerative arthritis, muscle spasms, or head and neck injuries. Many patients suffering from this joint syndrome do not realize they have this problem. As shown below, the painful symptoms of TMJ arise from undue strain on the jaw muscles often occurring when worn teeth misalign the jaw.

This, in turn, can impact muscles, joints and bones. The most common symptoms related to TMJ are pain in front of the ears especially while chewing. Other indications of TMJ include clicking noises in the jaw hinge joints, headaches at the sides of the head, and pain in the back of the neck. In addition, some factors that may aggravate a TMJ problem include injuries to the head, neck or face, grinding of the teeth (bruxism) and stress.

Although medications are available for relieving migraine type pain from TMJ disorders, it is important to remember that TMJ disorder is a chronic condition that ultimately requires neuromuscular dentistry. With early diagnosis, Dr. Sajoo can painlessly manage most TMJ disorders and related symptoms with surgery.

Most often, initial treatment of TMJ pain involves conservative treatment. At this stage , Dr. Sajoo may recommend you adjust your diet to restrict hard chewing. Other options include trigger point injections, splints, physical therapy and inflammatory medication. In the particular case of bruxism, a mouth guard may then be prescribed to patients who grind their teeth at night.

These initial treatments are designed primarily to reduce muscle spasm and swelling in the jaw joints while restoring normal functions for pain relief. Over the long-term, however, Dr. Sajoo may recommend more extensive orthodontic bite adjustments and even restorative measures including crowns, bridges, partials and occasionally surgery. If you believe you are suffering from TMJ disorders, call 954 563-0606 for a complimentary consultation on how Dr. Sajoo can detect and prescribe solutions to this problem.