TMJ pain treatment with minimalist approach

Pain in the jaw joints is known as temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder, TMD, and occurs in 5-12% of the population. People seeking TMJ pain treatment often refer to their joint paint as TMJ. Technically, your temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, are sliding hinge joints that connect the sides of your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders have a variety of causes, can be quite painful, causing tenderness, difficulty chewing, and even lockjaw.

At The OrthoBee Orthodontics in Fountain Valley, California, board certified orthodontist Dr. Chi H. Bui specializes in the diagnosis of TMJ disorders and TMJ pain treatment. She provides conservative approaches to TMJ pain treatment to patients from communities across Orange County, including Huntington Beach.

Because healthy, injury-free temporomandibular joints allow your jaw to move smoothly and without pain, most people don’t notice them until they don't work as they should. The exact cause of a person's TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, arthritis or jaw injury. In general, TMJ disorders are more commonly caused by muscle problems but they can also be caused by either damage to the cartilage that cushions the joint from the jawbone, or by damage to the small, shock-absorbing disc that sits between the joint and the bone that helps keep joint movement fluid.

Disorders of the jaw joint and chewing muscles—and how people respond to them—vary widely. Also, how jaw joint and muscle disorders progress is not clear. The three main categories of TMJ disorders are:

Myofascial pain involves discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function.
Internal derangement of the joint involves a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injury to the condyle.
Arthritis refers to a group of degenerative/inflammatory joint disorders that can affect the temporomandibular joint.
Although it’s not always possible to diagnose the exact cause of TMJ pain, there are specific factors that can increase your risk of developing the problem. Women are more likely to develop a TMJ problem, as are people who have had a past jaw injury. Having any type of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia, can also increase your risk.

The signs and symptoms of a TMJ disorder can vary, depending on its root cause. Some of the most common symptoms are:

Painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth
Acute pain in the affected temporomandibular joint
Achiness or tenderness in your face
Aching pain on one or both sides of your head
Difficulty eating or pain while chewing

Severe or chronic, untreated TMJ often comes with more severe symptoms, including:

Locking of the joint (lockjaw)
Limited jaw movement
Difficulty swallowing
Noticeable clicking during mouth movement
A change in the way your teeth fit together

The first step in treating a TMJ disorder is getting a proper diagnosis. Dr. Bui is specially trained to check your joints and muscles for tenderness. She also looks for other tell-tale signs, including poor range of motion in the joint, clicking, popping, or difficulty moving.

Lifestyle interventions, which is the less-is-best approach to TMJ management, is often what’s most beneficial for the average patient. Dr. Bui can show you jaw exercises specifically designed to strengthen and stretch your jaws, and may recommend that you switch to a liquid or soft diet for a certain amount of time to let your jaws rest. Other recommendations include:

Using an oral splint or mouth guard
Using ice packs or moist heat for pain
Finding a way to reduce stress or anxiety
Avoiding chewing gum
TMJ treatment sometimes includes prescription medications, such as pain-relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or muscle relaxants.