Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are most commonly recognized by the presence of pain and tenderness inside an individual’s jawbone, as well as within the muscles that are used in controlling the jaw’s movement. A TMJ disorder can be caused genetics, arthritis, excessive teeth grinding or clenching and oral injury. In many cases, the pain that is associated with a TMJ disorder is temporary, and it will often go away without surgical treatment.
Patients who are believed to be suffering from a TMJ disorder will usually be given a special examination in order to determine if this is indeed the case. This examination includes the following quick and easy steps:
- Listening to the patient’s jawbone and feeling it as it is moved
- Measuring the range of motion for the patient’s jaw
- Instructing the patient to identify any areas of pain or discomfort on the jaw or in the muscles used to control its movement
More severe cases of TMJ may require some type of medical intervention in order to alleviate the discomfort. If our experts make the determination that you are indeed suffering from a TMJ disorder, it is possible that you will be prescribed one or more of the following:
- Pain medication
- Muscle relaxants
- Physical therapy
- Mouth guards
- Injection treatment
- Surgery
