It's estimated to affect around 30 percent of people at some point in their lives to different degrees. If you think you might have a TMJ disorder, you should make an appointment with your dentist or doctor. They can discuss your symptoms and recommend treatments that could help to restore your normal jaw function. The temporomandibular joints TMJ connect the lower jaw mandible to the temporal bone of the skull. There are two of these joints, one on each side of the head, located just in front of the ears.
The TMJ enable jaw movements for eating, speaking, yawning and other actions. The bones of the joints are connected by a soft disc of cartilage that acts as a hinge to open, close and move the jaw. It also absorbs shocks and prevents friction. If these joints are injured or put under pressure, their function is impaired.
Jaw movements may be limited and you may hear unusual sounds or experience other symptoms. Jaw problems aren't always related to TMD, but you may have the condition if you have some of the following symptoms:. Sounds coming from the jaw might not be a sign of TMJ if you don't have pain or limited movement, but it's still a good idea to see your dentist or doctor to get a professional diagnosis.
TMJ disorders can happen for many reasons, and it's not always possible to identify the cause. However, your dentist or doctor will try to narrow it down so they can work on treating the source rather than the symptoms alone.
Women are more likely to suffer from TMJ issues than men, but these conditions can affect people of all ages and genders. You're also more likely to have TMD if you have a family history of jaw problems. Following are the most common causes of TMD. It's common for the cause to be a combination of reasons, which should each be addressed to relieve pain and restore normal jaw function. If you have a misaligned bite malocclusion , such as overbite or underbite, this can put strain on the jaw joints and lead to TMD symptoms such as a popping or clicking jaw.
A bite may also become uneven if a tooth gets chipped or wears down, or if you have dental work such as fillings , crowns or veneers that were built too long or too short.
These problems can be corrected by a dentist or orthodontist, although orthodontics is a long-term treatment that can sometimes take years to take effect.
Cartilage in the TMJ joints may be damaged by joint diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Other health problems may also affect joint functioning, including fibromyalgia, gout or an infection or tumour in the mouth. Putting too much pressure on the TMJ joints can cause wear and tear, which may be temporary or cause permanent damage. Activities that can strain the jaws include:. If you unintentionally grind or clench your teeth a condition called bruxism , either when sleeping or during the day, this can also put pressure on your jaws and increase your risk of TMD.
Bruxism may be caused by feelings of stress, anxiety or frustration, or it may have a physical cause, such as an uneven bite. Physical trauma to the jaw can damage the bones and cartilage in the joints, leading to TMD symptoms such as clicking and popping. Limited opening of about 1 inch less than 30 mm may indicate a closed lock. Open locks typically occur at over 2 inches between front teeth; but it can happen at much less in some instances. If your opening your mouth, but are unable to get the teeth back together, because your jaw gets stuck try to relax and message your jaw.
This is a condition where the jaw gets stuck momentarily either in a closed or wide open position but then gets unstuck immediately. This can cause pain, prevent normal chewing or speaking and adequate oral hygiene. When the mandible is unable to have normal range of motion it can lead to headaches, neck pain etc. The disc can only slip out when some of the fibers of this collateral ligament are torn.
This is the common jaw popping that many people casually report since there is no pain. Patients often hear that the only way to fix it is through surgery. But we have successfully treated joint locks without surgery for several years. All joint surgical procedures have associated risks including infection and anesthesia risks. Long term success rate is mixed since the surgical procedures do not usually address the underlying cause that led to the Disc Displacement without Reduction.
Surgeons usually caution the patients that it is only a temporary relief since the underlying poor jaw alignment that caused the lock is not addressed through this procedure. Under general anesthesia, an incision is made in front of the ear to open the TM joint, locate the disc and suture it into place. This is a more invasive procedure with increased risks. Due to this and other reasons, most Oral Maxillofacial surgeons do not do this surgery any more. Non surgical options include Neuromuscular dental protocol of precisely diagnosing the optimal alignment of the mandible to the head and temporarily correcting the jaw alignment with a NM orthotic to get the disc in place.
Only when there is substantial improvement of the symptoms, we would consider long term stabilization options such as NM Functional orthodontics see Colleen's case history to move the teeth into the improved positions to hold the jaw in the new position, NM Full mouth reconstruction see Paula's case history or a combination of procedures see Debbie's case history.
Move your jaw joint open or closed without pain and inflammation. For medical advice or diagnosis on how to unlock your jaw schedule an appointment and find out how treatment from a TMJ specialist doesn't just mask the symptoms, it can fix TMJ disorder for good. Start Treatment Today! Contact Us Name:.
Office Hours. What Is a Jaw Lock? What Can Be Done? Rod Strober July 26th, Oral Health. Share This Story! Facebook Twitter Email. Monday — Thursday: 9am — 5pm Friday — Sunday: Closed. Rod Strober October 27th, People often lose patience with the limitations of traditional dentures.
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