Why A Tmj Problem Should Not Be Ignored
In New York, a man experiencing a chronic headache suddenly showed up in a dentist's office
. This man carefully explained that he already consulted an internist, a neurologist, a nose and throat specialist, and an orthopaedic surgeon but was unsuccessful.
The dentist identified a lower jaw problem called TMJ or temporomandibular joint dysfunction which can be cured. This problem made various physicians to misdiagnosed women's facial and neck pain, earache, and sinus pain to be arthritis.
The way TMJ imitates different kinds of diseases has earned its nickname , the great imposter , which currently affects 20 percent of the population and is definitely neglected most of the time. Victims of TMJ dysfunction are the persons who go from doctor to doctor with a multitude of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
This dysfunction causes functional problems such as the inability to open or close the mouth. In some, there may be only pain that builds up migraine, sinus problems, atypical facial imitating a tic douloureux or a temporal arteritis, or a neck and shoulder pain.
In others, no pain may be present but dizziness, tinnitus or ear ringing, or subjective hearing loss can be felt.
To put things into perspective, it's the pain that turns them neurotic, not neurosis that causes the trouble. In front of the ear is where the temporomandibular joint is in which the lower jaw or mandible hinges to the skull. From a blow to the head or jaw or from opening the jaw too wide or too long when biting or yawning, the joint can be misplaced.
Clenching or gnashing the teeth when under tension or stress is one of the most common causes. The balance of muscles and ligaments that control movement is upset once the joint is affected.
In response, the muscles go into spasm, or involuntary contraction, a painful state. Now the pain may reach a distance allowing small areas of great sensitivity to radiate called trigger areas within muscles.
In the shoulders, neck, and the head are the parts where the trigger areas of TMJ system injects sharp pain and not just around the jaw and teeth areas. If the teeth are grinded and the jaws are clenched, it induces pain when chewing, speaking, and brushing of the teeth but on the other hand, when mouth is just simply opened, jaw pains are relieved.
For TMJ dysfunction to be efficiently identified, he says that tests can be done by any physician or dentist in just one minute. This can be done by simply listening by ear or by a stethoscope for any clicking or crepitus noises such as walking on gravel when the jaw is moved. Others include feeling the TMJ on each side, and the muscles as well to detect any spasm.
In some cases, the use of jaw muscles is needed in order to restore balance. With this given, aside from their efforts to chew, they might be tasked to perform simple exercises.
In one, the tip of the tongue is placed far back on the roof of the mouth and the mouth is then opened wide. Now this second exercise is intended to strengthen muscles by moving the jaw in a number of times from the weak side.
Applying moist heat for 10 minutes thrice daily to both sides of the face is advised to patients for them to combat spasm as well as eating soft foods often.
TMJ dysfunction has been attended to by many hospitals and dental schools recently for these institutions have build up special clinics specifically for TMJ. This movement shows that a growing number of doctors and dentists give relevance to the TMJ dysfunction problem.
by: John Chambers
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