The temporomandibular joint is a jaw joint that connects your jawbone with the skull.
The TMJ joint is located in front of the ear. TMJ syndrome is the jaw due to various medical problems. This article will discuss all the facts that cause TMJ syndrome and what their symptoms are.
Some facial muscles, especially chewing muscles, are connected with the lower jaw. If there is a TMJ joint problem, it causes severe neck, head, ear, facial and jaw pain.
It is a position that allows the opening of the mouth, chewing, and biting, so TMJ syndrome causes difficulty in eating and biting. According to a survey, women are more prone to TMJ disorder than men.
TMJ muscles are available on both sides of the mouth, which control all the process, and jaw bone under TMJ's control. It allows two types of movement: rotation and hinge action, which refers to the mouth's opening and closing. The coordination of both activities enables us to talk, chew, and yawn.
To feel your TMJ bone, place your finger in front of your ears
And open your mouth. Now you can feel the joint movement. When you open your mouth, the lower jaw ends (condyles) move along the joint socket towards the temporal bone. It slides back to its original position when you close your mouth.
The specialist examines and diagnoses your jaw problems. They are expert to assess by the motion of your mouth and feel of your TMJ joint. If the dentist or doctor suspects it as TMJ syndrome, then you need to get an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI for proper confirmation.
TMJ arthroscopy is reliable in diagnosing TMJ disorder. In this process, the doctor inserts a thin tube into joint space and then inserts a small camera through it to get a clear view of the inner area.
Causes of TMJ syndrome
Trauma
Trauma is the primary cause, which is maybe a macro or microtrauma. Microtrauma includes grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw(tightening). If these situations are long-term, then it causes the misalignment of teeth.
Macrotaruma likes punch or any accident that breaks the jawbone or damages the joint's inner cartilage layer. It is excruciating, which needs immediate doctor's attention. In some cases, massage of heat is also helpful.
Osteoarthritis
Like other body joints, the jaw joints are also affected by arthritic changes. It is mostly due to the aging factor. Immunological and inflammatory diseases play a significant role in triggering the TMJ joint syndrome.
Rheumatoid arthritis
It causes inflammation in joints and destruction of cartilage, erodes bones. In severe cases, it causes joint deformity. It is a type of autoimmune disease.
Other causes include cancer, bone deformity, and infection in joints.
Symptoms of TMJ syndrome
• Pain in the facial muscles and jaw joints
• Ear pains, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss
• Sound production while opening and closing the mouth
• Swelling on the face
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Nausea and vomiting due to headache and dizziness
If you feel any of the above symptoms, then make an appointment with a specialist doctor who guides you and assess your problem with care.