Other Causes of Jaw and Facial Pain: Certain other conditions including facial trauma, an abscessed tooth, or herpes zoster (shingles) can also cause pain similar to symptoms of TMJ disorder.
Chronic cluster, migraine, or tension headaches may be mistaken for TMJ disorder, especially since TMJ disorder itself can cause such headaches. Chronic sinus pain and sinus infections can also produce pain around the temples that can feel like TMJ disorder.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing TMJ disorders include: Various types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Jaw injury. Long-term (chronic) grinding or clenching of teeth.
While there are several reasons a patient can experience sudden or severe jaw pain, inflammation and overworked muscles tend to be the most common causes of TMJ flare-ups. Many physical changes and lifestyle habits can contribute to swelling around the joint and muscle tension.
The 3 Finger Test
A quick and easy way to identify a possible case of Trismus is to place three of your fingers, stacked, between your upper and lower teeth, or dentures. If the mouth can open wide enough to accommodate them comfortably, then Trismus is unlikely to be a problem.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. People have two TMJs; one on each side of the jaw.
A variety of modalities can be used to image the TMJ, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), cone beam CT, ultrasonography, conventional radiography.
An imbalance in your temporomandibular joint can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, teeth grinding, limited jaw movement, muscle soreness and can change the alignment of your jaw. When your jaw alignment is off, the effects ripple through your entire body.
TMJ flare-ups can last from a couple of hours to several days. Untreated cases of TMJ disorder can become chronic and debilitating. The length of time that TMJ flare-ups last depends on the person. Each case is different and is determined by the underlying cause and if any treatment is being utilized.
TMJ Can Be Caused By Stress-Induced Grinding & Clenching
Over time, this puts excessive strain on your teeth, supporting ligaments, and jaw muscles, and can contribute to the development of TMJ.
Although TMJ is not an autoimmune disease, it's symptoms can be the result of one. Autoimmune diseases arise when your system mistakenly attacks your body. The TMJ could be the primary site of the autoimmune condition or could be secondarily systemically infected.
The incidence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in inflammatory arthritis is often underestimated, and experience in treatment among rheumatologists is limited. Three conditions have an affinity toward the TMJ: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
HSV-1 may be an etiological factor in TMJ dysfunc- tion through its demyelination of the motor fibers of the various cranial nerves, particularly the trigeminal.
A dentist can help in diagnosing your TMJ disorder, and may also refer you to a physician or a specialist dentist for further diagnosis. Because TMJ can be caused by tooth and jaw alignment problems, there are dental treatments that may help.
As it courses posteriorly to the condylar head of the TMJ, compression, injury or irritation of the AT nerve can lead to significant neurologic and neuro-muscular disorders, including Tourette's syndrome,Torticolli, gait or balance disorders and Parkinson's disease.
TMJ pain can be on one side or both sides. It all depends on where the pain is located. If the pain is located on one side of the face, the problem is likely to originate from that side. However, if the pain is spread across both sides of the face, it is less likely that the problem originates from one specific side.
Remember that for most people, discomfort from TMJ disorders will eventually go away on its own. Simple self-care practices are often effective in easing symptoms. If treatment is needed, it should be based on a reasonable diagnosis, be conservative and reversible, and be customized to your special needs.
Things that make TMJ dysfunction worse
Poor posture. (This can place excess pressure on your neck, shoulder and facial muscles.) Chewing on pens, pencils or other items (a common “nervous habit” behavior). Chewing on ice or excessively chewing gum.
Discomfort in the masseter muscle can lead to: tension headaches, earaches, toothaches, dizziness, tinnitus, teeth grinding, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).
More severe cases of TMJ can cause aching in the face, neck, shoulders, ears, and head. It may also be painful to talk, eat, or yawn. Some people may experience dizziness, impaired balance, or ringing in the ear (tinnitus). The pain caused by TMJ disorders will vary based on the root cause of the condition.
Temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMJ, can cause fatigue, especially in the jaws and face. Plus, the pain alone can make people feel tired and uncomfortable, resulting in loss of sleep. People with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other similar conditions are often more prone to TMJ problems.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the best diagnostic tools for identification of TMJ pathology, allowing evaluation of TMJ disc position, morphology, mobility, extent of joint degenerative changes, inflammation, and presence of connective tissue/autoimmune diseases.
There is a high prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders in MS, such as pain and difficulty opening the mouth and TMJ sounds, which can be attributed to myofascial and neck pain.
The Best Type of Doctor to See for TMJ Pain
If you're experiencing TMJ pain, you should see a dentist. Dentists don't just treat your teeth—they're specialists who are trained in the anatomy of the jaw and diagnosing dysfunction in the bite.