Your Health Matters
By Claudia Parks, R.N.
Can you imagine that some of the BEST THINGS in life- like eating a meal, talking to a friend or even kissing your husband (or wife) would feel like more trouble (painful) than it's worth? You may have a condition known as TemporoMandibular Disorder (TMD) or TemporoMandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ). Which is the same condition-the name being the preference of the doctor.
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, which is one of the two joints that connect the jaw to the temporal bone of the skull. This is a combination hinge and gliding joint and is instrumental in chewing and talking. This abnormal condition is characterized by facial pain and malfunction of the joint and muscles that are used for chewing, etc. People with TMJ may wrestle with headaches; earaches and facial pain on a daily basis, often with no idea what's causing their discomfort. Some also experience neck pain, tingling sensations in the tongue and a clicking or popping noise when they eat, talk or move their jaws. Some people can barely open their mouths.
"Research shows that anywhere from 40 to 80 percent of the population has some minor TMJ symptoms, but less than 5 percent need to be treated," says
Andrew Kaplan, D.M.D., director of the TMD/Facial Pain Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Researchers don't know why, but a disproportionate number of women in their twenties, thirties and forties are affected.
CAUSES: Some cases are hereditary, resulting from a structural abnormality in the joint. Injury to the jaw. The joint can also be damaged by whiplash. As the head snaps back, the lower jaw stays put, so you actually get excessive opening of the jaw for a split second.
But most TMJ cases are actually muscular problems resulting from the everyday strain we place on our jaws. Habits like gum chewing or tooth grinding, causing persistent soreness in front of the ears and around the temples.
Another possible cause is poor posture. "It hasn't been proven, but one theory is that somebody who sits in front of a computer screen all day may crane her neck forward, which overworks the muscles in the neck and shoulders and may cause soreness in the jaw," says Dr. Kaplan. Carrying a heavy shoulder bag can also throw your body alignment out of whack, putting a strain on your neck and jaw muscles.
These straightforward physical causes may not be the only factors that determine who gets TMJ. Many experts have speculated that psychological factors like chronic stress, tension and depression might play a role in the disorder.
First Stop: The Dentist. Start with your family dentist. He/she will palpate the muscles of your head and neck, listening for joint noises. She may also measure how far you can open your mouth and how far the jaw can move from side to side. She should also examine your teeth for wear to determine whether tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, causes your symptoms.
Your dentist may refer you to a physician, oral surgeon, psychologist, physical therapist or pain center. If your symptoms are due to tooth grinding, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant or recommend an appliance, a plastic mouthpiece that's worn at night to keep the upper and lower teeth from touching each other.
Treatments for TMJ can be much more invasive, according to Dr. Kaplan. Surgery, tooth capping and orthodontic braces used to be the remedies of choice to realign the bite and jaws. "Sometimes it has to be done as a last resort," he says, but he advises patients to try non-surgical and reversible kinds of therapy first. "If you go for an initial consult and right off the bat your doctor recommends surgery or having your teeth capped or getting braces, you should definitely seek a second opinion." Check with your health insurance provider to see the type of coverage you have for treating this condition-so that you won't have any surprises! For more info: www.tmj.org
Claudia Parks, RN, lived in south Fulton County for more than forty years. She is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband now make their home in the north Georgia Mountains, near Blairsville.
By Claudia Parks, R.N.
Can you imagine that some of the BEST THINGS in life- like eating a meal, talking to a friend or even kissing your husband (or wife) would feel like more trouble (painful) than it's worth? You may have a condition known as TemporoMandibular Disorder (TMD) or TemporoMandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ). Which is the same condition-the name being the preference of the doctor.
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, which is one of the two joints that connect the jaw to the temporal bone of the skull. This is a combination hinge and gliding joint and is instrumental in chewing and talking. This abnormal condition is characterized by facial pain and malfunction of the joint and muscles that are used for chewing, etc. People with TMJ may wrestle with headaches; earaches and facial pain on a daily basis, often with no idea what's causing their discomfort. Some also experience neck pain, tingling sensations in the tongue and a clicking or popping noise when they eat, talk or move their jaws. Some people can barely open their mouths.
"Research shows that anywhere from 40 to 80 percent of the population has some minor TMJ symptoms, but less than 5 percent need to be treated," says
Andrew Kaplan, D.M.D., director of the TMD/Facial Pain Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Researchers don't know why, but a disproportionate number of women in their twenties, thirties and forties are affected.
CAUSES: Some cases are hereditary, resulting from a structural abnormality in the joint. Injury to the jaw. The joint can also be damaged by whiplash. As the head snaps back, the lower jaw stays put, so you actually get excessive opening of the jaw for a split second.
But most TMJ cases are actually muscular problems resulting from the everyday strain we place on our jaws. Habits like gum chewing or tooth grinding, causing persistent soreness in front of the ears and around the temples.
Another possible cause is poor posture. "It hasn't been proven, but one theory is that somebody who sits in front of a computer screen all day may crane her neck forward, which overworks the muscles in the neck and shoulders and may cause soreness in the jaw," says Dr. Kaplan. Carrying a heavy shoulder bag can also throw your body alignment out of whack, putting a strain on your neck and jaw muscles.
These straightforward physical causes may not be the only factors that determine who gets TMJ. Many experts have speculated that psychological factors like chronic stress, tension and depression might play a role in the disorder.
First Stop: The Dentist. Start with your family dentist. He/she will palpate the muscles of your head and neck, listening for joint noises. She may also measure how far you can open your mouth and how far the jaw can move from side to side. She should also examine your teeth for wear to determine whether tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, causes your symptoms.
Your dentist may refer you to a physician, oral surgeon, psychologist, physical therapist or pain center. If your symptoms are due to tooth grinding, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant or recommend an appliance, a plastic mouthpiece that's worn at night to keep the upper and lower teeth from touching each other.
Treatments for TMJ can be much more invasive, according to Dr. Kaplan. Surgery, tooth capping and orthodontic braces used to be the remedies of choice to realign the bite and jaws. "Sometimes it has to be done as a last resort," he says, but he advises patients to try non-surgical and reversible kinds of therapy first. "If you go for an initial consult and right off the bat your doctor recommends surgery or having your teeth capped or getting braces, you should definitely seek a second opinion." Check with your health insurance provider to see the type of coverage you have for treating this condition-so that you won't have any surprises! For more info: www.tmj.org
Claudia Parks, RN, lived in south Fulton County for more than forty years. She is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband now make their home in the north Georgia Mountains, near Blairsville.
