The best medicines for TMJ pain are over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. In some extreme circumstances, a dentist may prescribe something stronger, but even then it's likely to be a prescription ibuprofen, not opioid painkiller.
Jaw exercises are some of the most effective ways to relieve TMJ tightness and even cure TMJ permanently. They help strengthen the jaw muscles, increase jaw mobility, reduce jaw clicking and promote jaw healing. They also help stretch and relax the jaw.
In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed, but some people with TMJ disorders may benefit from surgical treatments.
Oral surgeons recommend several conservative therapies, including: Ice packs or warm packs applied to the face and temporomandibular joint area. Ibuprofen, naproxen or other over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Mouthguards or stabilization splints, worn at night to prevent tooth grinding.
TMJ dysfunction can contribute to a range of complications, including chronic pain, limited chewing function and bruxism-related wear and tear. Some factors can overlap, and it may be difficult to identify the exact cause. In some cases, it can take a while to find a treatment that works well for you.
The good news is that most TMJ symptoms will clear up in no more than three weeks typically. However, certain TMJ conditions, especially those brought about by arthritis or bruxism, can last months or years, depending on the severity of the underlying condition.
TMJ disorder is not considered a permanent condition. TMJ generally goes away with the appropriate treatment, but the disorder can come back in times of stress or if reinjured.
While opening your jaw slightly, place a finger over the joint in front of your ear, and then open wide until you can feel the joint move. If you feel the joint click or if it's tender when you press gently, you may have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
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.
While watching yourself in a mirror, gently open and close your mouth, dropping your jaw straight up and down. Repeat for a few minutes each morning and night. Look for small improvements in the jaw's range of motion as you practice this exercise from day to day.
TMJ Disorders Can Be Both Medical and Dental Problems
Arthritis is another medical condition that can lead to a TMJ disorder. However, TMJ disorders can also be a dental problem by nature, especially when it is caused by an underlying problem with a person's teeth.
Centrally acting Muscle relaxants help relieve TMJ disorder-related jaw pain and discomfort by relaxing the jaw and face muscles and decreasing muscle spasms. Commonly known muscle relaxants include Soma, Skelaxin, Zanaflex, and Robaxin.
Since the TM joint resides adjacent to the ears, it's common to experience many TMJ symptoms in the ears. Patients can experience ear pain or clogged ears that they might pass off as an ear infection or allergies but is actually from TMD. TMD can also cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears from nerve irritation).
Sleeping on your back is going to be the best position if you suffer from TMJ, another TMD or orofacial pain. Lying on your back has a number of benefits: It won't put pressure on the jaw. It will offer proper support to the head, neck and shoulders.
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.
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.
Touch – your dentist will use their fingers to apply a bit of pressure to the jaw and TMJ to test for tenderness and pain. Sight – your dentist will look inside your mouth for signs of teeth grinding, clenching and alignment issues. They'll also use X-Rays, if they've found evidence of a TMJ disorder.
When you have a TMJ disorder, you may have pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement. More women than men have TMJ issues. Although you can get it at any age, but it's most common between the ages of 20 to 40 years old.
When TMJ affects the eyes, the symptoms can include pressure that builds behind the eye sockets. Some people may also experience blurry vision. TMJ often causes tension headaches, which can contribute to blurry vision and pressure behind the eyes. Sufferers can also have pain around their eyes due to TMJ.
Cost of TMJ Treatment by Splint Therapy
Oral splints are available within a price range of Rs 500 to Rs 3500. If you've been diagnosed with TMJ disorder and are seeking treatment for it, contact Smile Centre India today to schedule a complimentary dental consultation.
Does TMJ typically require surgery? You may not need surgery at all if initial, nonsurgical therapies, medications, or lifestyle changes relieve your TMJ pain. Surgery is often the last resort for more persistent cases, and even that doesn't guarantee a cure.
Although it's very common to experience pain when you have TMJ, it becomes serious when this pain doesn't go away or if it becomes worse. If you're dealing with any sort of pain in your jaw or mouth, it's best to seek a medical professional for a checkup.
Myofascial pain dysfunction – This category includes the most commonly experienced TMJ disorders and is characterized by pain and discomfort in the jaw muscles, neck and head. Internal TMJ derangement – Internal derangement is the most serious category of TMJ disorders.