What is Jaw Joint Pain?
emporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are a clinical condition characterized by pain in the jaw joint, sounds such as crepitus or clicking, and irregular jaw movements. The jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) is formed by the temporal bone and the lower jawbone (mandible). Temporomandibular joint dysfunction refers to restrictions and functional impairments in the jaw joint. Disorders of the jaw joint are also known as “Costen’s syndrome.” These conditions generally present with acute or chronic pain and are usually caused by inflammation of the chewing muscles and/or the joint itself.
What Are the Symptoms of Jaw Joint Disorders?
This common condition has various symptoms, including:
- Jaw pain and tenderness
- Sounds during jaw joint movement
- Catching, locking, restricted movement, or dislocation of the jaw joint
- Facial asymmetry
- Unexplained headaches
- Unexplained neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Unexplained ear and facial pain, and tinnitus (ear ringing)
- Decreased quality of chewing
- Increased sensitivity or decay in specific teeth
- Postural disorders
What Are the Causes of Jaw Joint Problems?
Causes of temporomandibular joint dysfunction include:
- Congenital jaw problems
- Facial trauma, injuries, complicated dental treatments
- Long-term orthodontic treatments
- Missing teeth
- Degenerative diseases affecting the jaw joint (rheumatic diseases, calcification of the joint, joint capsule problems, etc.)
- Stress and psychological problems (especially teeth clenching and grinding)
- Incorrect chewing and eating habits
- Widespread muscle pain disorders (myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia)
- Postural disorders
How is Jaw Joint Pain Treated?
In the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction, a clear cause-and-effect relationship must first be established and a diagnosis made. Treatment aims to correct etiological and pathogenic factors, relieve symptoms, restore joint mobility, and improve posture.
The rehabilitation program includes medications for pain and inflammation control, physiotherapy agents for pain relief, joint movement, and muscle strengthening, manual therapy, osteopathy, and a home exercise program. Patients are also given lifestyle advice.
Most patients experience improvement in the symptoms and signs of jaw joint disorders. Therefore, conservative and preventive treatments should be applied before any interventional therapies.
Rehabilitasyon programında ağrı ve inflamasyon kontrolü için medikaller, ağrı ve eklem hareketi, kasların kuvvetlenmesi için fizyoterapi ajanları, manuel terapi, osteopati, ev egzersiz programı uygulanır. Günlük yaşama dair tavsiyelerde bulunur.
Hastaların çoğunda, çene eklemi bozuklukları belirti ve bulguları iyileşebilir. Bu nedenle konservatif/koruyucu tedaviler, girişimsel tedavilerden önce uygulanmalıdır.