NHAN TAM DENTAL CLINIC – IMPLANT AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Temporomandibular joint disorders

Author: Dr. Nhan Tam View: 538
Temporomandibular joint disorders includes symptoms such as pain in front of the ear, opening and closing the mouth to hear the sound in the joint, unable to open the mouth wide, opening and closing to one side or not smoothly, jaw fatigue... At first, there may be "temporomandibular dysfunction" and then more severe will progress to temporomandibular joint disorders. There may also be headache, neck and ear fatigue, earache, dizziness. This is a disease in which the jaw cannot perform the functions (eating, chewing, speaking, opening mouth...) in a normal way.

Temporomandibular joint disorders is caused by a combination of factors, often due to improper bite, bad habits (such as teeth grinding), psychological factors, trauma, disease in the temporomandibular joint (such asop arthritis joints)... Depending on the condition of the disease, the treatment may include orthodontic treatment, making a chewing tray, taking medicine, orthopedic surgery of the jaw.

Alignment is performed when the bite between the two jaws is not correct, it may be necessary to grind the teeth (sharpen the places that make the bite entangled), extract teeth, fill teeth, make dentures... to be able to put the joints. bite into the correct position.

Occlusal splints are appliances made for each patient, covering the teeth in the upper or lower jaw. It is usually made of hard, transparent, removable plastic. Occlusal splints help reduce pain and fatigue, help balance the chewing system and protect the teeth. Depending on the patient's condition, the patient can wear a trough at night or during the day. Occlusal splints need to be checked by a doctor every few weeks or months.

The case of dislocated jaw every time you yawn or open your mouth wide may be due to the ligaments of the temporomandibular joint being stretched. When yawning or opening the mouth wide, the lower jaw slides forward, out of the joint, causing pain and unable to close the mouth. When this happens, you can ask the person in front of you to place a thumb, press down, and then push back on the outside of the tooth. The lower jaw will return to its original position. The helper needs to keep the thumb away from the chewing surface because the jaw closes with great chewing force. It is best to go to the doctor to correct it.

If you wake up in the morning with pain and fatigue in your jaw muscles or when you are working, you also have similar symptoms, it may be due to stressful work that makes you bite or grind your teeth. Can be treated with occlusal splints or supported by physical therapy such as ultrasound, massage. It is important to eliminate the cause of the stress.

During the treatment period (or after the treatment is completed), it is necessary to: Limit eating foods that are too hard or too chewy. Pay attention to avoid bad habits such as grinding your teeth, clenching your teeth, biting your nails or other objects. Exercise and massage muscles and joints according to the instructions of the doctor. Applying heat to painful areas is also an effective way to immediately relieve pain. Taking time to rest, relax and relieve work pressures, avoiding stress in life will be good for temporomandibular joint disorders in particular and health in general.