Temporomandibular Disorder Research Paper

Temporomandibular Disorders Approximately 15% of Americans suffer from chronic facial pain, much like headaches, ear aches, and jaw pain. The cause behind the pain may be a directly related to temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Any problems involving the muscles of jaw or the TMJ, results in a TMD, temporomandibular disorder. A good majority of Americans who suffer from TMD are women and are between the ages of 20 to 40 years of age. For some it’s a fleeting pain, and just assume that it may be just a slight pain due to overuse or fatigue, however for others it’s the exact opposite. Some individuals may experience a constant pain radiating from their jaw that may cause other facial pain. Such as headaches, which may feel more like migraines,
or ear aches, just because of the location of the temporomandibular joint. The cause of TMD varies from each individual. However, the most common causes of TMD may be stress, injury to the jaw joint, muscles of the head, and neck. Other common cause of TMD may also include grinding or clenching of the teeth, movement of the disc between the ball and socket of the joint, arthritis, and stress. The grinding and clenching of the teeth causes the muscles of the jaw to overwork itself and therefore causing pain when moving the jaw. The disc in between the joint may cause pain as well due to the occasional rubbing of bone on bone. Arthritis causes inflammation of the TMJ, while stress tightens the facial muscles causing discomfort. Symptoms of TMD may seem discrete and unsubstantial, however it may cause major pain for some individuals. Common symptoms will present as pain or tenderness in the face, jaw, neck and shoulders, clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint, trouble chewing or sudden uncomfortable bite due to the teeth not fitting together properly, and swelling on the side of your face. Providers who have to diagnose TMD, they must first eliminate other causes of jaw pain much like tooth decay, sinus problems, or gum disease. First step in diagnosing TMD will pertain to your past medical history and conduct a physical exam. The provider will check for pain or tenderness in the TMJ, as well as listening for clicks, pops, or grating sounds when moving the jaw. Some radiology tests that they may order for you would be X-rays, MRI, and CAT scans. Your doctor may want an X-ray to rule out other problems. An MRI may be needed to check on the TMJ disc, making sure that the disc is in the proper position as the jaw moves. The CT scan shows the bony detail of the joint.
In treating TMD, there are some home remedies that may relieve the pain and discomfort. Taking over the counter NSAIDS , much like ibuprofen or aspirin and should feel immediate relief and reduce swelling if present. You can also self-treat yourself and eat more soft foods, hot and cold therapy, and avoid hard food or foods that force you to widen your jaw. You can also make a slight change in activities as well where you refrain from yelling, yawning, singing, and any other activities that may force the jaw to widen. If you have problems with clenching or grinding at night, you can try wearing a night guard or a splint, which you may have to follow up to decide whether or not you may be experiencing sleep apnea. Bibliography
"Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD, TMJ)." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2017.
"Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)." TMD, Temporomandibular Disorders & Oral Health | Colgate. Colgate, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2017.