Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)

Head | Orthopaedics | Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) (Disease)


Description

This syndrome is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint which connects the jaw to the skull. Symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder include the following: biting or chewing difficult or uncomfortable; cracking sounds as the opening or closing mouth; mild pain; especially morning headache; hearing loss; especially migraine morning; jaw pain or tenderness, tinnitus; neck or shoulder pain; reduced ability to open mouth. Disorders may contribute to tooth syndrome.

Causes and Risk factors

Disorder and cause significant pain and dysfunction resulting local damage. Because it transcends the boundaries between dental disease and neurology there is a variety of therapeutic surgical approaches. Temporomandibular joint is susceptible to many conditions that affect other joints including ankylosis, arthritis, trauma, dislocations, developmental anomalies and neoplasia. An old name for the syndrome Costen syndrome is named after a man who partially characterized.

Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder vary in presentation and can be very complex, but frequently simple. On average symptoms will involve more than one element of the joint: muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, connective tissue and teeth. Ear pain associated with swelling of proximal tissue is a symptom of this disorder.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Temporomandibular joint signs and symptoms get better over time with or without treatment for most patients. Up to 50% of patients experience symptomatic relief and 85% from one year to three years. Conservative treatment should be tried before invasive therapies such as the orthodontic or surgical. Due to its proximity to the joint ear, pain can be mistaken for ear pain. Pain of the ear can be experienced as half of patients. However temporomandibular joint syndrome may be a cause of secondary pain of the ear.

Treatment can significantly reduce symptoms of earache and tinnitus as atypical facial pain. In spite of this some researchers question the therapy can reduce symptoms if the ear. Dysfunction involved is determined by the relationship between mandibular condyle and disc. Sounds produced by this dysfunction are usually described as clicks or crepitation when there are more sounds. ...