Jaw Joint and Its Treatment
The jaw joint connects the lower jaw to the base of the skull in front of the ear and allows versatile movement during speaking and chewing. Disorders of the jaw joint and surrounding tissues can occur due to factors such as improper chewing, trauma, teeth grinding, or body posture disorders.
What Are the Symptoms of Jaw Joint Disorder?
- Headaches concentrated in the temples and pain spreading to the neck
- Difficulty opening the jaw, clicking sounds while opening the jaw, and jaw locking
- Ear pain, ringing, dizziness, and pain in the cheeks
- Jaw dislocations
- Impaired biting, chewing, and tearing movements
- Teeth wear and sensitivity
- Misalignment of upper and lower teeth
What Are the Causes of Jaw Joint Disorders?
There are various causes of jaw joint disorders, including:
- Constantly chewing on one side
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Stress
- Missing teeth
- Improper prosthetic procedures affecting jaw alignment
- Injuries or trauma to the jaw area
- Long and traumatic dental procedures
- Posture disorders
- Systemic diseases or tumors affecting the head or neck area
- Neurological or psychiatric problems
- Parafunctional habits such as chewing gum, nail-biting, or pencil-biting
How Is Jaw Joint Disorder Treated?
Treatment is determined based on the disorder. For many people, symptoms are temporary and do not lead to serious problems. Complaints decrease and eventually disappear when the causative factor is eliminated. In many cases, combined treatments yield positive results.
Splints: A stabilization splint is a removable transparent plate, usually applied to the upper jaw, with a thickness of 4-6 mm suited for the biting position. Depending on the patient’s condition, it may need to be worn only at night or for 24 hours. It positions the jaw in the most appropriate position, and treatment lasts 2-5 months.
Soft Diet: Consuming foods that require minimal chewing reduces the load on the jaw joint and chewing muscles. Large bites should be avoided during meals.
Exercises and Heat Applications: Jaw-opening and closing exercises recommended by the dentist, along with regular hot or cold applications to the joint area, provide relief.
Medications: Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants may be used to relieve muscle pain and prevent jaw muscle contractions.
Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Application: This reduces the activation of the chewing muscle causing tension, thereby reducing the load on the joint. While it can offer temporary relief, it does not treat the root cause.
Arthroscopy: This involves cleaning the joint by washing it through an external approach. This clears damaged tissues or corrects the position of the disk and condyle. It is applied in advanced cases.
Open Joint Surgery: Open joint surgery is performed in cases of tumors around the jaw joint, severe injuries, or fractures.