Joint problems are usually associated with rheumatism or injuries to the hands and feet. Meanwhile, irregularities in the structure of the temporomandibular joint affect from 20 to 40% of the population.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, abbreviated TMSJ, is associated with the malfunction of a pair of “hinges” connecting the skull with the mandible. Accompanying the disease, headaches are so strong that they often resemble a migraine.
Annoying crackling and pain
The temporomandibular joint is the only movable connection in the skull. It takes part in various situations that occur during the day, e.g. when talking, eating, whistling, singing, yawning or clenching your teeth as a result of stress.
TMJ dysfunction may be indicated by a headache and sore jaw muscles upon waking. Symptoms contribute to tooth grinding – the so-called parafunctions. Not without significance here are ten times more powerful forces released during biting and chewing, which lead to malocclusion, destruction of the bone surrounding the tooth and gum tissue.
The symptoms of this disease are considered to be:
migraine headaches,
pain in groups of teeth, where it is difficult to determine which is the cause,
dull, diffuse, radiating, deep pain,
pain and pressure behind the eyes,
earaches,
pain when yawning, chewing and opening the mouth,
jaw muscle soreness,
blocking, jaw prolapse,
friction and crackling in the temporomandibular joint,
sudden change in the relative position of the upper and lower teeth,
limitation or loss of the ability to open the mouth,
suspicion of diseases of the eye sinuses and the organ of hearing.
On the side of causes are:
malocclusion – deep bite, moving the jaw too far back,
missing back teeth
dental abnormalities – teeth tilted backwards,
head or jaw injuries, e.g. as a result of car accidents, blows from behind,
arthritis,
stress and muscle overload – bad posture, teeth clenching and grinding,
complications after intubation.
Significant treatment
In the treatment of pathologies of the temporomandibular joint, physiotherapy, physical therapy, relaxation exercises are often prescribed to reduce stress, which is accompanied by clenching the teeth. People affected by this disease are taught self-therapy so that they can use exercises without the supervision of specialists. Improvement can be brought by dental and prosthetic treatment, and temporary relief by painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. An occlusal plate called a splint is made for individual orders. It protects the teeth from friction caused by teeth clenching. Ultimately, when the mandibular joints are affected by disease, surgery is recommended within them.