Treatment of Jaw Problems and Headaches
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Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction Syndrome is a condition in which the patient has painful temporomandibular (jaw) joints, tenderness in the muscles that move the jaw, clicking of the joints, and limitation of jaw movement. Stress, resulting in clenching the jaws and grinding the teeth, can be one causal factor.
Here at Fountain Dental, we have been treating cases of “Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction Syndrome” for many years at the practice. Symptoms can include;
- Joint pain which can radiate along upper or lower teeth and sometimes back into the ear
- Jaw joint clicking
- Jaw opening limitation or locking open/ closed
- Ear and hearing problems
- Tension headaches
Causes of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction Syndrome can include;
- Nocturnal bruxism (night tooth grinding) usually due to stress
- Incorrect way the teeth touch together (incorrect occlusion)
- Excessive yawning
- Sleeping on your side rather than on your back
- Trauma to the jaw joint
Treatment options to consider include;
- Some exercises may be helpful in reducing symptoms. Psychological stress is also strongly linked with jaw problems, reducing this is an important consideration.
- Provision of a Soft Bite-Guard can be considered, which is a horse shoe shaped clear silicone coverage for either upper or more usually lower teeth. This creates a thin, resilient protection for both upper and lower teeth, so you are not able to wear (grind away) your teeth and fillings during night time wearing. This however does not relieve the stresses set up in your jaw joints, and is perhaps more diagnostic than a long term treatment. It is more usually used to prevent breakages in the mouth due to grinding movements.
- A hard lower or upper removable bite raising appliance can be made with smooth clear resin. This needs to be designed especially for you and allows your teeth to slide easily over each other during sleep. This prevents the teeth from locking together which can overload the jaw joints and is especially useful at times of stress, thus preventing nocturnal bruxism (night tooth grinding). This will need “balancing in” to ensure correct movements and loadings.
Please Note: Treatment with parts A. and C. followed by a period of review is essential prior to any hospital referral (which is usually then not necessary).
