TMJ

Disorders of the temporomandibular joints and the masticatory muscles can have many causes. Often pain is caused by malfunction of the temporomandibular joint, with its highly complex bony, muscular and nerve structures, which is why the disease is known as craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD). Not every crack or deviations of the rows of teeth in the mouth thereby have an illness requiring treatment value. Approximately 70% of the population have these symptoms without tangible pathology on the TMJ area.

Symptoms that may indicate a TMJ disorder requiring therapy and diagnostic work require, are in particular:

• Pain in the jaw joints, which radiate into the ears, to the temple, in the back of the head, the neck or shoulders. It is not uncommon even in the cervical spine pain, back and shoulder.
• TMJ sounds in pain when chewing or talking.
• Painful obstruction of the mouth or mouth closure and deviation of the chin to the mouth to the side.
• redness and swelling of the soft tissue over the jaw joints

Besides a detailed masticatory and diagnostic imaging is limited in most cases, the treatment of a so-called splint therapy. This includes a borne on the teeth plastic rail which must be specially adapted to the needs of the patient. This can be used by the patient and even removed. The aim of this measure is a relaxation of the masticatory muscles and relief of TMJ reach. Supportive therapies using heat, physical therapy or medications may be necessary to supplement this.

When conservative measures have not provided any treatment success, additional operative adjuvant therapies are possible.

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