What is TMJ?
TMJ is a common shorthand for temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The condition was first described nearly 100 years ago, and it’s gone by many names, including Costen’s syndrome, myofascial pain disorder or syndrome (MPD or MPS), temporomandibular whiplash, and more.
We now recognize that the name is an umbrella term that includes many closely related conditions. Currently, the three most recognized types of TMJ are:
- Degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- Disc displacement (DD)
- Myofascial pain disorder
- Myofascial pain disorder
- Disc displacement (DD)
- Degenerative joint disease (DJD)
People can have more than one type at the same time.
What causes TMJ disorder?
Because TMJ is an umbrella term for multiple disorders, there are many potential causes for the condition. Some of the more common causes linked to TMJ include:
- Jaw injury, including whiplash from a car accident
- Developmental irregularity
- Stress
- Bite imbalance, including malocclusion related to crooked, missing, or worn teeth
- Arthritis
- Habits such as chewing nails, chewing pens, chewing gum, and more.
- Overworking your joint
- Jaw injury, including whiplash from a car accident
- Bite imbalance, including malocclusion related to crooked, missing, or worn teeth
- Stress
- Developmental irregularity
- Arthritis
- Habits such as chewing nails, chewing pens, chewing gum, and more.
- Overworking your joint
However, the causes of your TMJ may not always be clear. TMJ can sometimes take months to develop, and in the intervening time, an innocuous cause might slip your memory.
What are the common symptoms of TMJ?
As with the causes of TMJ, the symptoms of TMJ can be highly variable because your TMJ might be different from other people’s. However, some common symptoms include:
- Irregular or restricted jaw motion
- Jaw pain
- Jaw joint noises, including popping, clicking, or grinding
- Headaches (including migraine)
- Pain in the face, neck, shoulder, or back
- A feeling that your teeth aren’t fitting together right
- Ear pain
- Ear fullness
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Tingling or numbness in your fingers
- Irregular or restricted jaw motion
- Jaw pain
- Jaw joint noises, including popping, clicking, or grinding
- Headaches (including migraine)
- Pain in the face, neck, shoulder, or back
- A feeling that your teeth aren’t fitting together right
- Ear pain
- Ear fullness
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Tingling or numbness in your fingers
Every person’s symptoms may be different. Don’t dismiss the condition simply because you don’t have all the symptoms. Instead, consider TMJ if you have three or more symptoms or even one TMJ symptom, if that symptom is highly disruptive and doesn’t respond to your current treatments.
How is TMJ diagnosed?
TMJ diagnosis typically includes three elements:
- Medical history
- Physical exam
- Imaging
- Medical history
- Physical exam
- Imaging
In your medical history, we want to know about any potential causes of TMJ you might have noticed, how long you’ve had symptoms, and whether you have any linked conditions. This includes what are sometimes called chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPC), which includes TMJ as well as migraines, chronic back pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and more.
In the physical exam, Dr. Adam Hahn will look at your teeth and jaw. He will feel your jaw and jaw muscles, and ask you to demonstrate your symptoms if possible. He may also use instruments to help him understand your jaw movement, muscle tension, and joint sounds.
Medical imaging can help us get a better picture of what’s happening in your joints. It might include x-rays, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), MRI, and ultrasound.
What treatment options are available for TMJ?
There are many TMJ treatment options available, depending on the nature of your condition. Some of the most common treatments include:
- Home care
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Bite splint
- Physical therapy
- Bite reconstruction
- Surgery
- Home care
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Bite splint
- Physical therapy
- Bite reconstruction
- Surgery
Often, TMJ responds well to minimally invasive, reversible treatments. It’s best to put off surgery and other invasive treatments until you’ve tried other options.
Are there home remedies for managing TMJ symptoms?
Yes! In fact, most cases of TMJ resolve at home with no need for professional care. For home treatment, try these steps:
- Relax your jaw (eat a soft diet, minimize talking, avoid clenching)
- Apply an ice pack and/or a warm compress
- Take over-the-counter medications
- Relax your jaw (eat a soft diet, minimize talking, avoid clenching)
- Apply an ice pack and/or a warm compress
- Take over-the-counter medications
For some people, it’s easy to relax your jaw. If you have conditions like night bruxism, you might not be able to stop clenching your jaw.
An ice pack is always good for TMJ. Alternate with a warm, moist compress if you have muscle soreness.
Take over-the-counter medications according to the label directions, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) work best for TMJ because they help control swelling that can worsen symptoms.
Seek professional care if symptoms:
- Persist for 7 days or recur
- Worsen under home care
- Disrupt your daily routine, especially if you can’t sleep
- Don’t respond to medication
- Persist for 7 days or recur
- Worsen under home care
- Don’t respond to medication
- Disrupt your daily routine, especially if you can’t sleep
These are signs that your TMJ may be serious and require professional attention.
Are there exercises that can help manage TMJ symptoms?
Yes, but you shouldn’t think of TMJ exercises as a form of home care. With TMJ, exercise can either help or hurt, so don’t start a course of TMJ exercises until after you talk to a professional. They can evaluate your TMJ to determine whether exercises are likely to be helpful. They can then instruct you in how to properly perform the exercises so you don’t accidentally do more harm.
How long does it take to treat TMJ?
It depends on the type of TMJ that you have. People can experience some degree of relief on the day of their TMJ exam because of the way we use TENS to relax your muscles.
With bite splint therapy, you will see steady improvement, and most people see maximum results after 6-8 weeks. However, in some cases, final results may take longer.
Can TMJ cause long-term damage if left untreated?
Yes. TMJ can cause damage to your teeth, joints, and bone. Your teeth don’t heal, so any damage to your teeth is long-term damage that requires restorative treatment. In addition, TMJ can either wear down or permanently displace the cushioning disc in the joint, allowing your bones to grind against each other when you work your jaw.
Putting off TMJ treatment can reduce your treatment options.
What are the risks and benefits of TMJ surgery?
TMJ surgery has only one potential benefit: it can sometimes help when other treatments have failed.
However, TMJ surgery comes with several risks, including a high likelihood of failure and a possibility of increased pain and/or dysfunction.
Can orthodontic treatment help with TMJ issues?
If a bad bite is among the causes of your TMJ, then orthodontic treatment has the potential to help.
Are there TMJ specialists?
There are currently no TMJ specialties recognized by either the American Dental Association or the American Medical Association. TMJ may be treated by Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors (ENTs or otolaryngologists) and neuromuscular dentists.
Is TMJ treatment covered by insurance?
TMJ treatment may be covered by insurance. However, it depends on your coverage, and it’s unlikely that your insurance will fully cover your treatment.
Have Additional TMJ Questions in Columbia?
If you have additional questions about TMJ in Columbia, expert TMJ dentist Dr. Adam Hahn can help.
Please call (803) 781-9090 or use our online contact form to request an appointment where you can get all your questions answered at Smile Columbia Dentistry.
