TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS
The jaw joints and groups of muscles let us chew, swallow,
speak and yawn. When there's a problem with
how the joints and muscles work, you may have a temporomandibular disorder or
TMD.
The symptoms of TMDs are:
1) Tender or sore jaw muscles. Your jaw may be even more painful when you wake up, clench your teeth, chew your food or yawn.
2) Problems opening or closing your mouth. It may be hard to open or close your jaws all the way, or your jaws may lock open or closed.
3) Headaches that you cannot explain. You may also feel pain in your neck. These may be caused by TMD, or by other problems. Tell your dentist/your doctor.
4)A clicking or grinding noise when you chew or yawn. You may hear strange noises in your jaw joints, such as clicking or popping when you open your mouth, or crunching and grinding sounds when you chew.
The cause of TMD is not always clear, but in most cases stress
is a major factor. Here are some of the things that may cause it.
3)If your jaw does not grow the right way, your teeth may not line
up the way they should. This can make it hard to bite and chew, and may lead to
TMD.
- habits such as biting on your pen or pencil.
How your dentist can help
5) Wearing a night guard or bite plate (also called an occlusal splint). An occlusal splint is made of clear plastic. It fits over the biting surface of the teeth of one jaw so that you bite against the splint rather than your teeth. This helps your jaw joints and muscles to relax. Depending on your TMD, your dentist may tell you to wear a splint 24 hours a day, only at night, or for some length of time in between.
The symptoms of TMDs are:
1) Tender or sore jaw muscles. Your jaw may be even more painful when you wake up, clench your teeth, chew your food or yawn.
 |
| SORE JAW MUSCLES |
2) Problems opening or closing your mouth. It may be hard to open or close your jaws all the way, or your jaws may lock open or closed.
 |
| LOCK JAW |
3) Headaches that you cannot explain. You may also feel pain in your neck. These may be caused by TMD, or by other problems. Tell your dentist/your doctor.
 |
| HEADACHES |
4)A clicking or grinding noise when you chew or yawn. You may hear strange noises in your jaw joints, such as clicking or popping when you open your mouth, or crunching and grinding sounds when you chew.
 |
| POPPING JAW |
The cause of TMD is not always clear, but in most cases stress
is a major factor. Here are some of the things that may cause it.
1)Clenching and grinding your teeth. Clenching your jaw muscles
can cause them to ache. Some people grind their teeth or clench their jaw muscles
when they are under stress.
2)Injury to your face or jaws. Broken (or fractured) jaws, a jaw
joint that has been knocked out of place (or dislocated) may cause TMD. |
| TEETH GRINDING |
 |
| DISLOCATED JAW |
 |
| FRACTURED JAW |
4)Some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may affect the jaw joints and muscles.
Other things that may lead to TMD are
 |
| PARTIAL DENTURES |
- worn, loose, or missing teeth.
- gum problems.
- partial or full dentures that are not the right fit.
 |
| GUM DISEASE |
 |
| WORN TEETH |
What you can do:
1) Relax.
Be aware of when you are clenching your teeth. Try to relax your jaw
muscles and keep them relaxed.
2)Watch
what you eat. Stay away from hard or sticky foods. Do not chew gum. Try not to open your mouth too
wide, even when you yawn (support your lower jaw when you yawn).
3)Massage
and exercise. Rub (or massage) and stretch (or exercise) your jaw muscles.
This may help ease stress.
4)Remember
the saying, "Lips together ... teeth apart." Try to keep your upper
and lower teeth apart, except when you are eating or swallowing.
How your dentist can help
To judge your condition, your dentist will do a detailed exam,
and may take x-rays.
 |
| OPG |
Depending on what your
dentist finds, he or she may suggest a plan to treat your TMD.
Treatment may include:
1) Correcting problems with your teeth. If you have a bad bite,
braces or other dental work may be used to correct the problem. Teeth that are
causing the problem can sometimes be reshaped to fit together better.
 |
| BRACES |
2) If any impacted tooth are present, those teeth will be removed.
3) If you have any missing tooth, replacement should be done.
4) Taking medicine. Depending on the cause of your TMD, medicine for pain, inflammation, tense muscles or depression may help.
3) If you have any missing tooth, replacement should be done.
4) Taking medicine. Depending on the cause of your TMD, medicine for pain, inflammation, tense muscles or depression may help.
5) Wearing a night guard or bite plate (also called an occlusal splint). An occlusal splint is made of clear plastic. It fits over the biting surface of the teeth of one jaw so that you bite against the splint rather than your teeth. This helps your jaw joints and muscles to relax. Depending on your TMD, your dentist may tell you to wear a splint 24 hours a day, only at night, or for some length of time in between.
 |
| OCCLUSAL SPLINT |
6) Having surgery. If none of the other treatments have worked, or
if it is very hard to open your jaw, you may need surgery.
For more information regarding treatments contact us today.
For more information regarding treatments contact us today.
Rootz Dental Care and Implant Center,
No:2/2, First Floor, Sakthi Nagar,
Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thuraipakkam,
Chennai - 600 097,
Phone :- 9786688755,044-49504825
No:2/2, First Floor, Sakthi Nagar,
Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thuraipakkam,
Chennai - 600 097,
Phone :- 9786688755,044-49504825
Email :- rootzdentalcare@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment