Project Description

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Temporomandibular joint disorder is a syndrome that causes pain and function loss in the chewing muscles. It’s been becoming more and more common. It’s caused by the loss of adjustment between articular surface and disc.

Causes of temporomandibular joint disorder:

  • Trauma to the jaw or joint area (by accident or by impact)
  • Chewing only by one side
  • Lack of teeth
  • Gnashing teeth against each other
  • Stress, depression etc.
  • Bite occlusions that are not physiologic
  • Developmental defects on the joint (such as hypoplasia)
  • Degenerative joint diseases (osteoarthritis, arthrosis)
  • Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
  • Orthodontic deformations
  • Unknown factors

Signs of temporomandibular joint disorder:

  • A feeling of pain when opening the mouth
  • Squeaking noise when closing the mouth
  • Restrictions in mouth movement
  • Pain or stiffness in neck
  • Headache (not to be confused with migraine)
  • Pain in bite occlusion
  • Early feeling of fatigue when chewing
  • Pain and difficulty in moving the jaw, generally when the patient wakes up
  • Difficulty in yawning
  • Pain in the ears, a ringing in the ears and the feeling of blockage and a feeling of pressure
  • Sudden changes in bite occlusion
  • Asymmetry in the face, due to the hyperplasia in the face muscles
  • Deviation in the jaw when opening the mouth

A total recovery may not be possible for every case. If the disorder is caused by bite occlusion or it is relieved after orthodontic treatment, patient experiences a great comfort, but the tissue that’s been damaged can’t be healed.

With the temporomandibular joint disorder treatment, the proper chewing behaviour is taught to the patient and the further abrasion is prevented.

The disorder is first diagnosed by oral and maxillofacial specialists, and the patient is informed on the treatment plan. If the patient agrees, the treatment is applied.

A multidisciplinary approach is required in this  case. Besides the treatment that will be applied by the specialists, a consultation from an orthodontist, a physical therapist, a psychiatrist and a neurologist.

Patient education and protective treatment, splint treatment, medicine treatment, exercises, physical treatment, psychiatric support and arthrocentesis is used in the treatment.