Temporomandibular disorder (MDR) is an abnormality in the functioning of the temporomandibular joint ( ATM), which is responsible for the opening and closing of the mouth, which can be caused by excessive tightening of the teeth during sleep, a blow to the area or habit. nail-biting, for example.
Thus, an anomaly in the functioning of this joint and the muscles working in the movement of the jaw, characterizes TMD. When this happens, it is common to experience oral discomfort and headaches.
- To do this.
- The treatment of TSCs is done with the installation of a rigid plate that covers the teeth to sleep.
- And it is also important to perform physiotherapy with postural reprogramming exercises.
The most common symptoms of TMD are
All of these factors affect the muscles of the joints and jaw, causing pain, discomfort and crackling. ATM pain can often cause headaches, in which case the pain is caused by constant stimulation of the face and chewing muscles.
To confirm the diagnosis of TTM and have the right treatment, it is ideal to look for a dentist trained in “temporomandibular disorders and bucoacial pain”.
To diagnose ATM, questions are asked about the patient’s symptoms and then a physical exam is performed that involves palpation of the chewing and ATM muscles.
In addition, additional tests, such as MRIs and CT scans, may also be indicated in some cases.
TMD can have several causes, changes in emotional state, genetic factors, and oral habits, such as gritting teeth, which can be instinctive in cases of anxiety or anger, but it can also be a nocturnal habit that is often not being made aware of. This condition is called bruxism and one of its signs is that the teeth are very worn out. Learn how to identify and treat bruxism.
However, there are other causes of ATM pain, such as poor chewing, a blow to the area, very crooked teeth that force your facial muscles, or the habit of biting your nails and biting your lips.
Treatment is based on the type of TMD of the person. Physiotherapy sessions, massages to relax the muscles of the face and head and the use of an acrylic dental plaque made by the dentist, for night use, are generally recommended.
Your dentist may also recommend the use of anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants to relieve acute pain. Learn more about pain management at ATMs. In addition, the dentist may suggest learning relaxation techniques to control muscle tension in the jaw.
When changes occur in certain parts of the jaw, such as joints, muscles or bones, and previous treatments are not effective, surgery may be recommended.