TMJ and Facial Pain

TMJ disorders (TMD) can arise from an injury or trauma. Any injury that has enough force to break teeth can permanently damage temporomandibular joints (TMJ), surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons. Obvious injuries such as a fractured jaw or traumatic head injury typically happen as the result of a motor vehicle accident or sports injury, and can be pinpointed at a specific time/date. Best dentist in Mysore suggests that the tougher problems to treat are the more subtle injuries, as they are more difficult to identify. This is usually because the symptoms (and damage) are not immediate. For example, you may have pain in your jaw right now, and it could be from a car accident 5 or 10 years ago.

Which injuries can cause a TMD?

• A) Whiplash – Many people think that whiplash is just a neck injury, however the central point of the trauma associated with this rapid movement is the temporomandibular joint- TMJ. The muscles associated with the TMJ are placed under excessive pressure, opening the jaw and exerting force on the sides of the skull where the jaw is attached to the skull.

• B) Blow to the Lower Jaw – This can cause trauma that is significant enough to misalign, dislocate or even break your jaw. If there has been a change in the anatomy of the jaw, like disc displacement or condylar injury, then a clicking sound will start to occur when moving the jaw

• C) Blow to the side of the Head – This can cause the temporalis muscle to contract. If the temporalis contracts then the mandible (lower jaw) is lifted, causing misalignment needing immediate TMJ disorder treatment in Mysore. Characteristic symptoms of this type of injury include jaw pain, headaches, migraines and dizziness.
• D) Overextending the Joint – When holding your mouth open for extended periods of time, there is potential for stretching and straining one or both TMJ’s. Stretching the ligaments may allow the TMJ disc to have an unnatural ROM (range of motion). If the disc slips forward past the condyle, it no longer serves its function as a buffer between the bone of the condyle and the cranial socket. This could happen during normal activities of daily life such as yawning too wide, singing, yelling or laughing. This also often occurs after an extensive dental procedure, or if you experience a seizure.

Additionally, repetitive behavioural habits like jaw clenching, teeth grinding, excessive gum chewing, or any other behaviour can be the source of a micro trauma (minor internal injury). People under a lot of stress may constantly chew gum or clench their teeth. Even though this seems like a minor action, if repeated for a continuous time, it can cause myofacial trigger points. Damage is done slowly and over a long period of time. So unless the individual is aware of their behaviour, they probably don’t even know that they are harming themselves.

Similar to other joints in the body, the TMJ is a multipart structure that acts as a hinge or joint. This hinge is a ball-and-socket joint. Basically, it enables your jaw to move freely (estimated function is up to 5,000 times per day). Each person has two TMJ’s (left & right). You can feel both of them by placing your fingers in front of your ear lobes and opening/closing your mouth. TMJ’s are very susceptible to injury due to their structural delicacy and therefore needs to be treated only by the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in Mysore.

Anytime you encounter an accident or injury, Maxillofacial Surgeon in Mysore would screen you for signs of TMJ pain or dysfunction. This should be done right after the accident and then re-examined on a yearly basis. Dr. Ravi Kumar M P spends significant time with new patients to learn about their lifestyle and possible injuries. He will discuss imaging results and comprise a treatment plan if a TMJ problem is diagnosed. While some surgeries are available for different TMJ dysfunctions, Dr. Ravi Kumar M P takes a conservative approach. To find out more about the treatments offered at the best dental clinic in Mysore, PRECISION – Centre for Facial Surgery, Smile Design & Dental Implant,
call us at 9972717015.