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TMJ Disorders

TMJ, or temporomandibular joints, are theMore often than not, TMJ disorders involve
joints of the jaw, connecting the mandible,mild symptoms, symptoms that go away on their
or lower jaw bone, to the skull. They areown. They may come back from time to time,
essential joints: we use them for commonbut they usually don't worsen. However, some
activities like speaking and eating. Becausepeople with TMJ disorders do possess chronic
of their frequent use, when these joints aresymptoms, symptoms that don't subside. Up to
afflicted by a disorder, the outcome can be12 percent of people with TMJ disorders have
debilitating. This is due, in part, becausethese chronic symptoms, ultimately having
TMJ disorders can be medically elusive, withchronic pain that impacts their ability to
complexities that are not quite completelyeat, talk, yawn, swallow, and lead a normal
understood. Yet, TMJ disorders are morelife. Those with chronic symptoms are often
bothersome because of the fact that theaffected on both a physical and emotional
disorders attack joints that people can'tlevel.
stay off of and let heal; they attack joints
people  can't  help  but  rely  on.
Treatment
The  CausesTreatment of TMJ disorders purposes to
relieve jaw pain and restore full function
TMJ disorders can be caused by one singleand movement. A variety of treatments have
factor, but they are more commonly caused byproven to fulfill this purpose and, often,
multiple factors. One of the main causes ofat-home treatment is all the treatment a TMJ
TMJ disorders is simply muscle tension.disorder sufferer needs to seek. This can
Tightening of the jaw, head, neck and faceinclude wearing splints or bite plates for a
muscles can lead to jaw pain, and a jaw thatset period of time. These devices help reduce
is stiff and unyielding. This tension may begrinding of teeth and the clenching of facial
caused by inner stress and anxiety ormuscles, which ultimately relieves tension.
activities that cause stress on the jaw suchThough effective, splints and bite plates
as teeth grinding and gum chewing. A TMJshould not be used for a lengthy amount of
disorder may also be a response totime because they can potentially permanently
misalignment of the jaw joint, structuralchange  the  position of the jaw and teeth.
problems within the jaw joint, or an injury a
jaw may sustain through sports or accidents.
For those who suffer from chronic TMJ
disorders, relief may be found with muscle
While causes of a TMJ disorder may developrelaxation practices, such as biofeedback (a
over time, some people may be predisposed torelaxation technique where people learn to
them in earlier years. For instance, somecontrol a body function) and
people may have been born with structuralcognitive-behavioral therapy (a form of
problems or other birth defects that affecttherapy that modifies an individual's
the alignment of the jaw. Some people maybehavior  patterns).
have scar tissue or bone damage from a jaw
injury years earlier. Some people may havePeople may also find relief at their dentist
jaw displacement caused by a tumor or aoffice, with some dentists specializing in
wrongly positioned disc. In other instances,TMJ disorders. These dentists usually start
a TMJ disorder may be a result ofby performing a series of X-rays and
inflammation caused by degenerative diseases,prescribing a specialized mouth guard. They
such  as  rheumatoid  arthritis.may also recommend only eating soft foods for
a set amount of time or teach a series of
exercises aimed at relieving jaw tension and
pain. If these treatment options don't take,
Risk  Factorsmicrosurgery  may  be  recommended.
While not all risk factors for TMJ disorders
have been uncovered, most people afflicted
with a TMJ disorder do possess commonalitiesBut invasive procedures, such as surgery,
among their lifestyles. Risk factors includeare usually only reserved for extreme
stress and anxiety that causes muscleinstances: it is recommended that people try
tension, habits that cause jaw strain such asless extreme measures before choosing more
nail biting, eating hard candy, and sleepingpermanent ones. More often than not, surgical
on one side of your mouth, an injury to theprocedures are reserved for TMJ disorders
jaw or the head, and overstretching the jawcaused by diseases, irreversible injuries, or
during dental or medical surgery. Though ageTMJ disorders that were not compliant to any
and sex aren't huge risk factors, TMJother  form  of  treatment.
disorders do tend to affect people between
the ages of 20 and 50. While some studies
have determined that men and women are
affected at an equal rate, a few studies tendOverall, most sufferers of TMJ disorders are
to list women of childbearing age as the mostsufferers of stress, a factor known to play a
risky  demographic.role in all kinds of diseases. Because of
this, adopting a lifestyle that fights stress
rather than facilitates it may be the best
way  to  stop TMJ disorders in their tracks.
Symptoms
The symptoms of TMJ disorders aren't
necessarily limited to the jaw. They canAbout Us: The Center for Osteopathic
affect muscles in the face, shoulder, neckMedicine in Boulder, Colorado believes in The
and head. The most common symptoms are jointOsteopathic Difference. In a medical industry
and muscle pain, noise when the jaw opens andfocused on treating symptoms, The Center is
closes, inability to fully open the mouth ormore focused on finding the cause of these
pain  when  doing  so,  and  a  locked  jaw.symptoms.



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