This book describes Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

My 16 year old grand-daughter had a painful jaw 1 month ago during a physical exercise in school.

She felt a dull pain in the jaw while opening and closing her jaw.

She felt as though her mouth cannot be opened easily.

If she tried to open it bigger there is pain.

She also felt that the jaw is very tight and difficult to open.

Her mother was only able to get dental appointment 2 days later.

So she decided to come and consult me instead even though I have no dental experience.

However I have gone through Ear Nose and Throat department which treat such conditions.

When I examined her jaws there was a tightness of the temporomandibular joints on both sides.

She told me the jaws felt like they were stuck and she could not open her mouth completely as previously.

The temporomandibular joints on palpation were swollen and pushed forward and sideways.

I placed my fingers on both the joints and pressed them downwards and backwards.

She immediately felt relief in both joints.

She was able to open her jaws properly.

I used a cloth bandage to tie the jaw to the top of the head to keep the position of the reduced TMJ joint.

Unfortunately once she reached home she took the cloth bandage off because she felt embarrassed by the bandage on her head.

She felt better the next day but doing the physical exercise together with shouting made her feel that the jaw was tight again.

So she returned the next day and I did the same reduction of the TMJ for her.

I told her not to take off the cloth bandage.

Since then she had no problem with her jaws.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is a group of disorders that produce pain and loss of normal function to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw joint.

The normal symptoms are pain in TMJ, limitation of mandibular movement, and TMJ sounds.

The temporomandibular joint is sited in front of the ear, on both sides of the head.

The joint is composed of the lower jawbone and the skull.

A cartilage disk, which acts as a shock absorber and joint lubricant, separates these 2 bones.

The TMJ and the muscles of chewing allow the patient to open the mouth, talk and chew.

Causes of TMD can be due to:

Prolonged stress to the jaw joint

Habitual clenching or grinding of the teeth that overloads the joint, producing pain in the joint and muscles.

The patient may not be aware of these habits if they happen during sleep.

Trauma

A recent trauma or a history of injury such as a blow to the lower jaw or face can damage the TMJ.

Arthritis

The TMJ joint may be injured by arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative process due to aging or linked with medical disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Idiopathic TMJ cause:

The precise cause in many people with temporomandibular joint disorders is not known.

Symptoms

Noises

The patient may hear clicking or jarring sounds on opening or closing the mouth.

Pain

Dull pain, on opening and closing of the mouth, can be felt over the jaw joint area

Restriction in mouth opening and closing

Jaw movements may be reduced.

Diagnosis

MRI scans may be essential

Treatment

Relaxation and restoring correct joint coordination

Medicines

Arthrocentesis

Arthroscopy

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction

Chapter 1 Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Chapter 2 Causes

Chapter 3 Symptoms

Chapter 4 Diagnosis

Chapter 5 Treatment

Chapter 6 Prognosis

Chapter 7 Bruxism (Teeth Clenching)

Chapter 8 Toothache

Epilogue