TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Treatments in Antalya

Temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as jaw joint dysfunction, is a condition that can cause pain in the jaw and impair the function of the muscles that control jaw movements. These temporomandibular joints (jaw joint) allow the jawbone to move to the right, left, forward and backward and to open and close the mouth. However, if there is a jaw joint problem, sometimes even daily facial movements such as smiling, talking and chewing can cause pain. In case of pain in the jaw, ear or neck, noise in the joints and abnormal jaw movements, it is important to contact a specialist in Antalya jaw joint treatment without delay.

What Causes Jaw Joint Disease?

Problems in the tissues that connect the temporal bones of the skull and the lower jawbone (mandible) cause jaw joint disorders. It is usually caused by clenching or grinding habits that put pressure on the jaw joint and jaw muscles. Other causes of jaw joint disorders include arthritis, dislocation, infection and trauma to the face or jaw.

Biological, environmental, social, emotional and cognitive triggers may be effective in jaw joint disorders. Chronic headache, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, sleep apnea and the psychological state of the patient are other factors associated with the disease.

What are the Symptoms of Jaw Joint Diseases?

Symptoms include pain and tenderness in or around the ear, jaw joint, clicking sounds when opening and closing the mouth, pain in the jaw, head and cavity, ringing in the ears and locking of the jaw. Over time, the pain when moving the facial muscles can become chronic, the crunching in the joints can increase and chewing can become difficult. There may be a change in the alignment of the upper and lower teeth. People with jaw joint disorders often have difficulty opening their mouths wide.

If we list the symptoms of jaw joint diseases:

• Pain in the face and neck
• Sensitivity of the masticatory muscles
• Stiffness in the jaw muscles
• Limited movement of the jaw
• Jaw locking
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Headache
• Slippage of the jaw
• Alignment problem in upper and lower teeth

How is Jaw Joint Treatment Performed?

The treatment of jaw joint disorders, one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, aims to restore the jawbone to its proper position. The most conservative treatment possible is preferred. Jaw joint treatment may vary depending on the patient's symptoms, age and general health. After the dentist's examination, the cause of the problem is determined and solutions are shared with the patient. Depending on the underlying problem, various treatment methods can be applied.

Some of the preferred methods in Antalya jaw joint treatment can be listed as follows:

Splint Usage

The patient may be advised to use a splint to relieve the pressure on the jaw joint and teeth. Splint is a type of appliance used to restore balance in cases where there is no structural disorder in the joint but the closing of the jaw is adversely affected.

The splint is placed on the upper or lower teeth to control the interaction between the teeth. The splint used in Antalya jaw joint treatment is expected to keep the jaw joint in the appropriate position. When applied by an experienced dentist, positive results can be obtained, such as stabilization of the jaw and improvement in the bite. When the splint is properly placed, the pain can be relieved immediately.

Supportive Medicine

During treatment, the patient is recommended supportive applications such as hot and cold compresses, passive stretching exercises, muscle relaxants and a soft food diet. Muscle fatigue is tried to be reduced with jaw rest.

Physiotherapy

If deemed appropriate, the dentist may recommend physical therapy support to the patient in the treatment of jaw joint disorders. Physical therapy aims to improve muscle strength and coordination. Active or passive techniques are used to reduce the patient's complaints.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

For both short- and long-term pain management, treatment is supported by cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients are counseled on behavioral changes such as stress reduction, sleep patterns, elimination of habits such as teeth grinding and clenching, and avoidance of excessive mandibular movements (excessive opening during yawning, brushing and flossing techniques, etc.).

Medication Treatment

Your dentist can prescribe various medications to relieve pain in the jaw joint, such as anti-inflammatory drug treatments and muscle relaxants, based on expert opinion.

Surgical Treatment

Conservative measures may not respond to treatment if the patient has symptoms such as jaw trauma or fracture. Surgical treatments for jaw joint disorders, which are preferred to correct anatomical or joint abnormalities, aim to increase joint mobility. Surgical methods used to treat jaw joint disorders include arthroscopy, arthroplasty, prolotherapy and total joint replacement.

How is Jaw Joint Diseases Diagnosed?

The main problem encountered in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (jaw joint disorder) is that the pain leads the patient to the wrong specialist and then the problem is not solved radically by applying symptomatic treatment.

If complaints of pain usually occur some time after a visit to the dentist, it may be easier to associate the condition. In other cases, however, it is more helpful to involve different specialists: A dentist, an otolaryngologist and a neurologist. These specialists can work together to assess the patient's symptoms and arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Modern diagnostic methods of jaw joint diseases include the following:

• Examination and Assessment: Examination of the patient, evaluation of the functioning of the lower jaw during mouth opening and other movements.
• Impression Taking: Taking an impression of the jaw showing the displacement of the teeth.
• Medical History Taking: Listening to the patient's complaints, assessing general health status and taking medical history.
• Palpation (Hand Examination): The doctor feels the affected area and assesses the displacement of the joint.
• Imaging Methods: To assess the condition of the joint using imaging techniques such as computed tomography or MRI.

In complex cases, further investigations such as Doppler or rheoarthrography, magnetic resonance imaging, phonoarthrography, gnatodynamometry and electromyography may be used. Palpation, one of the diagnostic methods, plays an important role in reaching the correct diagnosis by feeling the wrong position of the joint.