For TMJ Treatment Atlanta Is Worth Visiting

By Peter Schmidt


The joints that link skulls to the jawbones are called temporomandibular joints. When these joints are injured or if they get damaged, a medical condition called temporomandibular joint syndrome develops. This article will discuss treatment options and causes of TMJ syndrome as determined by research. However, before going into that, when one needs a dentist with specialty in TMJ treatment Atlanta offers the best option to check out.

Temporomandibular joint syndrome affects jaw muscles and nerves, causing a lot of pain when one chews, clicks, crackles, or popes the jaws. Other symptoms that patients experience include painful tempos, nerve inflammation, bruxism, headaches, and Eustachian tube dysfunction. In some cases, the temporomandibular joint becomes discolored. Another name for this medical condition is temporomandibular joint disorder, TMD. Pain may be triggered by certain factors such as cold and sleeping on the sides.

Different people experience different symptoms. Some people commonly experience additional symptoms such as shoulder pain, painful tongue, dislocation of jaws, blurred vision, muscle spasms among several others. Symptoms remain dynamic as the condition heals or worsen. There is also disappearance and reappearance of symptoms without any warning.

The exact causes of TMD are not completely understood. There are many causes for muscle tightness and dysfunction, which characterize the condition. There is a lack of evidence to show if the factors are a result of TMD or if they actually cause the condition. Some common causes include misaligned jaws, teeth grinding, jaw trauma, stress, and poor posture.

Risk factors associated with this medical problems are also many. For instance, maintain poor head posture for extended period strains the jaws and neck, causing TMD. Excessive stress causes the jaw to clench and the muscle to tense. The risk of developing the problem is also higher is women aged between 18 and 44. Patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis are also predisposed to develop TMD. Finally, TMD is common in people misaligned teeth and jaws.

There are several options for treating this medical condition. Most of the medications given are usually meant to relieve the pain associated with the disease. Examples of medications prescribed are anti-inflammatories and pain relievers. Anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed are usually non-steroidal, and they include ibuprofen such as Montrin IB and Advil. Tricyclic antidepressants are also prescribed for pain relief. Muscle relaxants may also be prescribed if necessary.

The surgical option is usually available for consideration in a case where traditional methods have failed to produce good results. Open-joint surgery is opted for if the cause of the problem is structural. The purpose of the surgery is to replace or repair the damage in the joint, which solves the problem.

It is important to understand that there is more risk associated with open-joint surgery than other treatment options. There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with this method that one must discuss carefully with their doctor. The risks may also be higher in certain patients than in others. Thus, many considerations should be taken into account to avoid complications after surgery.




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