Treatment for TMJ Dysfunction and Headaches
The "Temporomandibular Joint," more commonly referred to as the "jaw joint," assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw. Unfortunately, this joint is a common area for recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that "popping" sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a "popping" sound is present when chewing or talking.
In our office, we offer a TMJ exam that evaluates the joint tissue in the "hinge" of the jaw. Possible problems include swelling, deterioration of the joint tissue or damaged joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones during the opening and closing movement of the mouth). Common pain relievers and cold compresses can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMJ problems such as chronic headaches or facial pain.
When we diagnose a defective bite as the problem, we will recommend bite-altering treatments. First, we will suggest using a mouth guard to relieve teeth grinding as a temporary and immediate solution. A long term solution will involve correcting the bite. In some cases, we will instruct you to use orthodontic appliances or retainers to alleviate discomfort or redirect positioning of the TMJ joint. In other cases, we will change the shape and height of the teeth to improve the way the upper and lower teeth fit into each other. Most headaches and facial pain will be eliminated by the bite treatments. For the most severe cases of TMJ pain or disease, we may recommend certain invasive procedures to be performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.