“What should I do to permanently resolve my TMJ issues?”
I have had TMD for half a year now. When I first experienced it, I felt some clicking in the jaw, followed by some headaches and ears popping when I swallow. Apart from the ears, the other symptoms seem to have subsided, before coming back later. headaches can be annoying, but manageable. my jaw rarely hurts, but it can hurt where my ear is sometimes now.
I learned that I could heal the TMJ through some exercises, though I didn't follow these religiously. I've been tested for infections and pressure tests, the ear is fine. I guess the question now is, what should I do to permanently resolve my TMJ issues?
My current symptoms:
- ear popping when I swallow
- slight ear pain due to jaw
- slight headaches
- some jaw clicking when I move it left or right, doesn't happen a lot
- tinnitus (possible from TMJ, or through loud music, minor inconvenience)
Should I just carry on with the exercises, apply heat packs constantly? I don't really want to do an injection. I've also heard that fixing posture goes a long way in resolving TMD, I just don't know if it will resolve all its symptoms.
I learned that I could heal the TMJ through some exercises, though I didn't follow these religiously. I've been tested for infections and pressure tests, the ear is fine. I guess the question now is, what should I do to permanently resolve my TMJ issues?
My current symptoms:
- ear popping when I swallow
- slight ear pain due to jaw
- slight headaches
- some jaw clicking when I move it left or right, doesn't happen a lot
- tinnitus (possible from TMJ, or through loud music, minor inconvenience)
Should I just carry on with the exercises, apply heat packs constantly? I don't really want to do an injection. I've also heard that fixing posture goes a long way in resolving TMD, I just don't know if it will resolve all its symptoms.
Male | 29 years old
Complaint duration: 6 months
Medications: none, took some painkillers but rarely
5 Answers
Your next step would likely be an occlusal splint (special type of night guard appliance). Your goal with most TMJ issues is not to "cure" it, but to do the minimal intervention necessary to relieve symptoms and make it "livable".
Most treatment of TMD is treating the symptoms. Most patients can find relief by wearing a splint that your dentist can make to allow proper position and movement of the joint. Chiropractic care and physical therapy are also very helpful. If the symptoms become severe enough, an oral surgeon may be needed to clean the joint. Oral surgeons can also use botox injections to treat muscles that may be over triggered and causing joint pain.
Exercises can help, but are annoying to keep up with, as you discovered. A correctly made bite splint is a big help. Problem is that expertise is hard to find. L. D. Pankey Institute helps train dentists for this, and their website can help you find one of their trained dentists near you.
You should see your dentist. If your dentist cannot help you he/she could recommend a specialist in TMJ problems (often a prosthodontist) who can help you. There is no real self-treatment. Your dental specialist will provide you with appropriate therapy. This may also involve a full mouth examination to be sure you do not have an associative problem that may indirectly or directly aggravate your TMJ problem, such as poor bite or an infected tooth.
You need to see a dentist who treats these issues.
Scott M. Dubowsky, DMD
Scott M. Dubowsky, DMD
