Temporomandibular disorders


Description

Temporomandibular disorders are known as a group of conditions that affect the jaw joints and surrounding muscles. In most cases, it can resolve spontaneously without treatment. it affects up to 15% of adults, with a peak incidence at 20 to 40 years of age and is twice as common in women than in men.

Symptoms

Jaw pain
Jaw dysfunction
Clicking or popping sound while opening or closing the mouth
Earache
Headache
Facial pain
Neck pain
Dizziness
Visit a General Practice doctor if you have any of these symptoms for proper diagnosis and treatment, he may refer you to a Dentist if needed


Causes

Many factors may cause this condition such as:

Teeth grinding
Stress
Articular disc displacement
Trauma “Jaw injury”
Arthritis

Diagnostics

The diagnosis largely depends on medical history and physical examination, but other tools can be used such as:

Panoramic x-ray (imaging using x-ray to show all teeth and jaw joints).
Magnetic resonance imaging (a device that uses magnetic fields is used to get an image of the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage).
Cone-beam computed tomography (a scan in which thousands of images are taken to produce 3-dimensional images of teeth, jaw, and facial bones).


Treatment

In most cases, this condition resolves spontaneously without treatment, but other cases need treatment such as:

Conservative therapy: the patient is educated to deal with the condition by eating soft food, adding warm compresses on painful areas, and resting the jaw.
Behavioral therapy: Making behavioral changes to relieve stress.
Medications:
NSAIDS (ex: Naproxen)
Antidepressant (ex: Amitriptyline)
Anticonvulsants (ex: Diazepam, Clonazepam, Gabapentin)
Muscle relaxants (ex: Orphenadrine, Metaxalone)
Physical therapy: special exercises and devices are used to stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles.
Devices: to prevent teeth grinding.
Surgery: different types of surgeries can be done if other options did not work.

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