TMJ
Hattiesburg, MS
 The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts as a sliding hinge for your jaw and provides mobility. It connects your jaw to your skull. TMJ disorders cause pain in your jaw joints and affect jaw movement. At Pine Belt Periodontics, PLLC, Dr. Brian Pitfield recommends using a variety of home and dental treatments to treat TMJ disorders.
Although the exact cause of TMJ disorders is difficult to determine, it could be due to an injury, arthritis, or genetics. Jaw pain can also result from habits like teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
Rest assured, TMJ disorders are treatable, and the pain can be significantly reduced through home care and nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is also an option, but it is a last resort.
Symptoms of TMJ
TMJ disorders are most commonly found in people aged 20 to 40 and display the following signs and symptoms:
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Severe pain and tenderness in the jaw
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Pain and tenderness on both temporomandibular joints
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Jaw tend to get stuck in an open or close-mouth situation
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Clicking and popping sound from the TMJ site
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Stiffness and limited movement
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Headaches and vertigo |
Causes of TMJ
It is difficult to determine the exact cause of TMJ disorders, but some plausible causes include:
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Joint cartilage damaged by arthritis
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Teeth grinding
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Disk moving out of alignment
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Injury or powerful impact, knocking the jaw out of alignment
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Growth disorder
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Structural jaw issues present since birth |
Treatment of TMJ
Multiple treatment methods are used to treat TMJ disorders.
Medications
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NSAIDs, like naproxen or ibuprofen, to relieve muscle pain and swelling
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Anti-anxiety medications to relieve stress and lower pain
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Muscle relaxants to prevent teeth grinding
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Antidepressants and local anesthetics are taken if prescribed |
Mouth guards are plastic mouth pieces for your upper and lower teeth. Dentists recommend wearing them while sleeping to prevent teeth grinding and clenching. Mouth guards also help correct your bite and align your teeth and jaw properly.
Surgery for TMJ Disorders
Dentists recommend surgery if your TMJ disorder is not treated with the above-mentioned practices. There are three types of surgeries depending on the problem.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive surgery that is done with an arthroscope. In this procedure, the dentist applies general anesthesia and the doctor makes a small cut in front of your ear to insert the tool and determine the condition of your jaw. It is used to remove inflamed tissue or to realign the joint.
Arthrocentesis
This procedure is done when the patient has no history of TMJ disorders but has a locked joint. In this, the doctor administers general anesthesia and inserts needles in your joints and washes them out. A special tool is used to realign the jaw or remove damaged tissue.
Open-Joint Surgery
If your joints are wearing down or if there are broken chips in your joints, this procedure is conducted. The entire area around the joint is opened to get a better view and fix the problem.
Contact Us for a Consultation Today
To schedule an appointment at Pine Belt Periodontics, PLLC for TMJ disorder treatment, call us at (601) 255-9929 today. |
