TMJ Problems

The temporo-mandibular joint or TMJ for short is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your upper jaw, it is the joint that moves when you speak, clench or unclench and of course, when you eat. It is one of the most used joint sin your body. Open your mouth and put your finger right in front of your ear. Now close your mouth. You should have felt the temporo-mandibular joint opening and shutting. This joint can be harmed or sick or painful in many ways and from many causes. Here is a short explanation of how and why the jaw starts to hurt.It is one of the most used joint sin your body. Open your mouth and put your finger right in front of your ear. Now close your mouth. You should have felt the temporo-mandibular joint opening and shutting. This joint can be harmed or sick or painful in many ways and from many causes. Here is a short explanation of how and why the jaw starts to hurt.

Clicking, pain and headaches

TMJ problems usually bring with them swelling and pain. They can also result in total lockjaw, in which you cannot open your mouth at all, sometimes for as long as several weeks. But this problem also starts much smaller, with clicking, mild pain and sometimes headaches. If you are experiencing these symptoms more often, or when you are chewing, you may want to go to a dentist and get that TMJ checked out.

Causes

The causes of TMJ are usually an uneven bite, with more pressure being on one joint, and more force needing to be exerted by one side of the jaw. Sometimes over extending is a problem too, and this will cause both sides to be inflamed and painful. Missing teeth can cause a bite that is only strong or complete on one side, which will cause one of the TMJ s to be used more than the other one, causing pain and inflammation. A lopsided bite can also occur if your teeth aren’t properly aligned, or if your jaw is lopsided.

Solutions to TMJ disorder

Te best solution depends on what is causing the problem. More often than not, orthodontic treatment is the best way to alleviate TMJ disorders, as the teeth will be aligned properly, and by closing the bite, or by solving crowding, there will be a more even bite that distributes the weight of the bite evenly on both TMJs. If the problem is missing teeth, dental implants and the crowns or bridges that go on top of them are the best solution, particularly in the case of a molar. A partial denture or a bridge will also fix the problem, but you may encounter it again if the bridge or denture is not fixed with dental implants.