Even
though Temporomandibular Joint Disorder primarily
involves the joint where the lower jaw bone or the
mandible joins the skull in a hinge-like formation, its
manifestation is mostly around the teeth. And because of
this, the teeth grinds uncontrollably, leads to uneven
bites and causes agonizing pain to most people who are
suffering from the TMJ disorder. Bewildered patients who
rush to health-care providers are redirected to dental
surgeons, and they of course also fail to provide any
TMJ relief. However, a retrospective analysis may throw
some light on this distressing disorder that has all but
made millions of Americans look for heavenly help to get
relief.
TMJ
Symptoms And Treatment – The
History
Since the
early thirties, mouth guards were used to prevent teeth
clinching, a typical TMJ symptom. However, these were
later discarded as these ‘guards’ created more pain than
relief and were subsequently replaced by ‘Splints’ that
could fit over a few front teeth so that the canines
were prevented from coming into contact with each other
thus putting an end to clenching. In severe cases,
orthodontics was called for re-alignment of the teeth.
More invasive TMJ treatment procedures involved ‘washing
out’ of the joint by way of inserting two needles into
the TMJ (under local anesthesia) while a syringe filled
with a cleansing fluid was sent through needle No. 1
that came out via needle No. 2. Patients in general were
seemingly happy with this ‘cleansing
arrangement’.
Modern Day
TMJ Cure
However,
the contemporary style of cure for TMJ, apart from
taking a holistic approach to it includes neuromuscular
treatment that sets its goal on three significant
issues, namely, relieving the muscle spasm and pain,
stabilizing the bite and also long term management of
the problem. One pain alleviating method that is
followed concerns the use of ULF-TENS that is commonly
referred to as TENS. Here the patient is subjected to
Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural
stimulation that helps relax the muscles by massaging
them in a gentle sort of a way. Studies have shown that
this in turn help reduce the TMJ pain by stimulating the
production of endorphins, which is the natural
anesthetic that is produced by the human
body.
As for
stabilizing the bite, a device called Orthotic is fitted
on the teeth at bedtime. Many believe that this can
create a reasonably good bite where the jaw joints, head
and jaw muscles and the teeth function individually and
severally without making extra demands on the system. In
short, it is expected to be less strenuous for the
organs.
As for
long term management of the pain and associated
problems, several methods are adapted once the initial
treatment modalities prove their
worth.
Nevertheless,
people who believe in the age old maxim which tells in
simple language that “Prevention is better than cure”
actually follow it to the letters. And they are probably
correct in their approach as
they:-
- Stay
away from Chewing Gums and advise others to do the
same.
- Never
try to crack hard nuts on their own, using mechanical
nut crackers instead.
- Check
them from clenching teeth at being irritated or
otherwise.
- Practice
relaxation techniques to help loosen up the jaw
muscles when tensed up.
- Try to
maintain healthy postures when sitting at work or
standing
- Keep
facial muscles relaxed all through the waking
hours.
- Regularly
apply warm compress on the face and the jaw bones
after working hours
- Consume
adequate drinking water and get ample
sleep.
- Take
anti-inflammatory medications at regular
intervals
However,
the fact remains that despite all precautionary measures
being taken; people do get affected with the TMJ
disorder that needs healing where early diagnosis and
treatment is a paramount issue. Since the TMJ syndrome
advances in stages, growing progressively worse, a minor
clicking noise today may develop into a major painful
episode tomorrow, needing complex treatment procedures
to resolve the issue. Besides, the prognosis always
proves better when addressed at an early
stage.
In most
cases, where TMJ has been finally diagnosed, treatment
consists of two pronged attack – One to alleviate the
pain and the other to correct the problem. While pain
management can be done either through NSAIDs, Trigger
Point Injections containing anesthetic to subdue the
tenderness or ultrasound; the correction modalities vary
from person to person. Although most treatment options
are of non-invasive type, surgery is allowed only as the
last recourse. But here again, physicians usually advise
change of lifestyle as a means of permanent cure instead
of long term use of prescription drugs. And since
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is not a life
threatening disease condition, patients generally follow
the advice.
TMJ
Natural Cure
There are
some who opt for TMJ natural cure and home remedies too.
Then there are many who go for the conventional
treatments to solve the TMJ disorder. But the problem
is, in most cases these approaches do not work because
just the symptoms of the disorder are addressed, whereas
the real causes of TMJ remain within the body. So what
are needed are holistic remedies because they treat the
body as a whole and identify all the contributing causes
of TMJ and then they are treated individually. And
because of this, once the causes are gone, the symptoms
go away themselves. The person can thus get rid of TMJ
finally.