The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the area of the jaw just in front of the earlobe region where the bottom jaw connects to the skull. These junctions are some of the most used in the body, as they allow for speaking, chewing, and swallowing - things that are essential daily tasks. Many contributors can lead to TMJ disorders, and the symptoms can vary depending on the cause and severity of the condition.

What Are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorders?

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some may experience no pain while others feel excruciating discomfort on a routine basis. Some individuals experience only one symptom while others may have several simultaneous flare-ups. Recurrent TMJ disorder symptoms reported include:

• Popping or clicking sounds when moving the jaw
• Lack of ability to open the mouth widely
• Jaws that temporarily feel ‘stuck’ in an open or closed position
• Misalignment of dental bite
• Pain, swelling or tiredness in the face, joint jaw or near the ear when moving the mouth
• Routine headaches

It should be noted that TMJ disorders can occur in one side of the face or both.

Potential Causes of TMJ Disorders

The precise cause of any person’s TMJ disorder is generally complex to determine, and it can be the result of factors such as a jaw injury, arthritis, due to clenching or grinding of teeth, or even genetic problems. Many who have the condition don’t experience any pain, but often grinding of the teeth or clenching is experienced.

Any of these symptoms can exist at birth, be acquired after birth as a result of hereditary or environmental influences or as a result of trauma to the face.

Those experiencing severe or chronic pin may benefit from surgical treatments such as orthognathic surgery.

What is the Right Solution for Your TMJ?

Depending on the cause of the disorder, treatment can be recommended. This can involve the use of custom made acrylic guides that are put on the teeth, use of muscle relaxants, change in diet, stress relief modalities, surgery or a combination of the above.

Jaw surgery is only considered in extremely painful situations in which the patient’s normal activities are complicated by the condition of TMJ disorders. The surgery is designed to alleviate pain, correct improper bites or jawline connections to reposition them in a fashion that corrects imbalances.

Jaw surgery procedure improves the function of teeth and the bite in those with severe misalignments. Prior to be considered for this surgery, patients are carefully evaluated by our experienced, Board-Certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Our professionals evaluate each patient and run tests to determine:

• Problems in chewing, biting, speech or swallowing
• Chronic jaw pain
• Bite misalignments
• Protrusions of the jaw
• Breathing problems
  
  

If you are a good candidate for surgery of the jaw, your specialist will show you via x-ray models that exhibit how the surgery works and its potential to assist in your condition.

Contact Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Here at Northwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Montgomery County, we provide oral and maxillofacial surgery for patients in the Conroe, The Woodlands, Spring, Huntsville and Magnolia, Texas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or talk to your primary dentist about your TMJ disorder treatment options.