TMJ Disorder - Are You Suffering From This All Too Common Jaw Disorder?
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Millions of Americans suffer from TMJ Disorder. They include people of all ages from pre-teens, teens, young adults, the middle-aged to seniors. TM Disorder is a term that relates to the jaw muscles and joints associated with chewing.
The temporomandibular joints, or TM joints, connect the jawbone to the skull and are located directly in front of the ear. The TM joint is a complex system that which when it breaks down, creates issues related to clicking and/or popping sensations when the mouth is opening and closing.
This is the most complex and consistently used joint system in the body. The TM joint is typically cycled over 2,000 each and every day. When break down occurs serious, chronic pain occurs. This pain often radiates down into the face, neck and shoulders.
When your TJM joints are experiencing problems, you may feel the following symptoms:
* pronounced noises associated with jaw movement (clicking, popping or crunching)
* pain when the jaw if fully opened
* limited range of motion
* grinding or clenching your teeth
* pain in the facial muscles and muscle fatigue in that area
* ear pain not related to ear infections
* inability to open or close the jaw temporarily (locking of the jaw)
* ringing in the ears
* recurring headaches - Often deemed as the number on symptom of TM Disorder
A TMJ disorder may develop for any number of reasons:
* lost or crooked teeth
* overbite
* teeth that fit together poorly (malocclusion = bad bite)
* degenerative arthritis
* various head or neck injuries including whiplash
* stress causing clenched teeth (bruxism) and muscle spasms
Because other types of pain have been shown to mimic a TMJ disorder, a careful and thorough dental and medical evaluation is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. If your condition indicates causes other than dentition, you may be referred to another member of the health care team or a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment (a physician, chiropractor, physical therapist, etc.).
If a malocclusion is detected, and the vast majority of TMJ disorders are the result of malocclusion, your teeth may require some restoration to improve the alignment of your "bite" and TM joints. This would be preceded by provisionally aligning your head/jaw in the correct posture by means of an orthopedic appliance.
If an orthotic is prescribed, you may be instructed to wear it during the course of your day (24/7). Additionally, treatment for immediate relief of pain and muscle spasm may be prescribed along with muscle relaxers, pain killers, heat compresses or ice packs, or micro-current electrical stimulation. Posture correction, specialized exercises to improve jaw muscle flexibility and strength and soft diet may also be prescribed.
To relieve stress and anxiety, biofeedback, relaxation techniques or psychological counseling may be employed. Only in "rare" cases is surgery required to correct a TMJ Disorder.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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