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10th Jun 11
admin>Temporomandibular joint syndrome is a very serious condition that may always be dismissed as simple pain. It can cause immense pain on the sufferer’s jaw and may cause infected if left untreated. If you are experiencing pain and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth, you may be suffering from this condition. In order to make sure that you are suffering from the syndrome, you need to get a TMJ diagnosis.
Before we talk about diagnosing the syndrome, let’s talk about its symptoms first. Common symptoms include pain in the sufferer’s jaw, neck, shoulders and even the ears which is aggravated when the sufferers speaks or chews. Opening or closing the mouth will be met with difficulty and in some cases, may even pop or lock. Patients mouth go sideways when opened and not up and down which is the way it should open.
Other symptoms that are experienced by some sufferers include swelling on the face, jaw and/or cheek. Because of this, toothaches and dizziness may also be experienced. Not all sufferers of this syndrome experience these though.
TMJ diagnosis is done by physically examining the joint that connects the skull to the jaw. A patient’s teeth is also examined to check if his or her lower and upper teeth are misaligned, which in medical terms is called malocclusion. Having panoramic x-rays is also done to see if there are structural problems in a patient’s hard tissues. For soft tissues, MRI can be used.
These methods are necessary in order to verify which caused the condition. One of them is the abovementioned malocclusion of the teeth. The syndrome may also be cause by grinding or clenching teeth unconsciously during your sleep which is called bruxism. It may sound absurd but chewing gum excessively and biting your nails may also cause the condition. Injuries obtained to the jaw can also cause it.
A proper TMJ diagnosis is required in order to identify the best and most appropriate treatment for it. This is because treatment for this condition varies and it may be as simple as doing jaw exercises or changing your diet. There are cases though that requires surgery and similar medical procedures.
>A TMJ diagnosis would confirm if you are suffering from temporomandibular joint syndrome. It will also determine the cause of your current predicament. Another thing it provides is it tells physicians the best treatment available for you.
>- Keith Sully
