What questions do you get about TMJ and TMD?
We get a lot of questions from people who have frequent headaches, clicking, popping, and jaw pain. We wanted to address those questions and let you know how these issues may be diagnosed and treated.
What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?
TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. It's the joint in your jaw, and that's where some people experience pain, clicking, or popping. TMD means temporomandibular disorder and refers to conditions involving the jaw joint, surrounding muscles, or related structures. TMJ is the joint. TMD is the disorder.
What causes TMD?
TMD can have a few different causes. It could be muscular in nature, it could stem from the structure of the joint, or it could involve other surrounding structures. We need to properly evaluate the patient to determine where the problem may be coming from and how to address the pain, clicking, popping, headaches, or other symptoms they may be experiencing.
What are the most common symptoms of TMD?
Some of the most common symptoms of TMD include jaw pain, clicking or popping, and discomfort around the jaw joint or surrounding muscles. Some patients may also experience headaches or pain that feels like it's coming from the teeth.
Is clicking and popping always a problem?
Some people's jaws click or pop when they open their mouth. Clicking and popping on their own aren't necessarily a problem. In some cases, the sound can be related to movement of the disc within the jaw joint.
If there's no pain, locking, or limitation in jaw movement associated with the clicking and popping, treatment may not be necessary. We can evaluate the joint if you're concerned or if the symptoms begin to change.
Can TMD be associated with headaches?
Headaches can occur in some patients with TMD, particularly when the jaw muscles are involved. If you're experiencing frequent headaches, we can evaluate the jaw and surrounding muscles to see if they may be contributing.
Headaches and migraines can have many different causes, though, so it's important not to assume they're coming from the TMJ without an appropriate evaluation.
Can TMD cause ear symptoms?
TMD can sometimes be associated with symptoms around the ear, such as ear pain, ringing, or a feeling of fullness. Because those symptoms can also have causes unrelated to the jaw joint, we want to evaluate what's going on rather than automatically assuming they're coming from the TMJ.
When appropriate, we may also collaborate with your physician or another health care provider to help determine the source of the symptoms.
Is TMD linked to clenching and grinding?
TMD can be associated with clenching and grinding. For some patients, clenching and grinding may contribute to soreness or fatigue in the jaw muscles. However, both TMD and clenching or grinding are multifactorial, so the relationship isn't necessarily the same for every patient.
Can stress make TMD symptoms worse?
Stress can make TMD symptoms worse for some people. During stressful periods, some patients may clench or grind their teeth more frequently, which can contribute to tension and discomfort in the jaw muscles.
Does your bite affect TMD?
One of the things we evaluate at Comfy Dental Studios is your occlusion, or bite, and how your teeth come together. Bite alignment is one of many factors we may consider when evaluating jaw symptoms, along with the muscles, joints, habits, medical history, and other possible causes.
How do you diagnose TMD?
In order to diagnose TMD, we need to see the patient and ask questions about how the symptoms started, when they started, and the nature of the pain, clicking, popping, headaches, or feelings around the ear.
We also evaluate the jaw movement, muscles, joints, and teeth. We may look at your bite and how the teeth come together as part of the overall evaluation. Depending on the symptoms and findings, additional imaging or evaluation by another provider may also be appropriate.
Are there signs of clenching and grinding on the teeth or tongue?
Sometimes we can see signs that may be associated with clenching or grinding, such as certain patterns of wear on the teeth. We may also see scalloping along the sides of the tongue, although that finding alone doesn't confirm that someone is clenching or grinding.
Can TMD symptoms vary in severity?
TMD symptoms can vary in severity and may change over time. For some patients, symptoms can become more noticeable during periods of stress or increased clenching and grinding. Other factors can also affect how much discomfort a patient experiences.
What happens if TMD is left untreated?
For some patients, ongoing TMD symptoms can affect quality of life by making it uncomfortable to chew, speak, or move the jaw. Depending on what's causing the problem, symptoms may stay the same, improve, or become more troublesome over time.
If you're experiencing persistent pain, limited jaw movement, locking, or other symptoms that interfere with your daily life, it's important to have the problem evaluated.
What treatment options do you offer for TMD?
We start by evaluating the patient and trying to determine what's contributing to the pain or discomfort. From there, treatment is individualized based on our findings.
At Comfy Dental Studios, we offer several approaches that may be considered as part of care, including dental acupuncture, photobiomodulation, Emface, Botox, and trigger point injections. Some of these approaches have more established evidence for particular TMD symptoms than others, so we'll discuss the purpose, potential benefits, limitations, and alternatives before recommending treatment.
Are nightguards and splints used for TMD?
Nightguards and oral splints may be used for certain patients with TMD or clenching and grinding. Depending on the appliance and the patient's condition, they may help protect the teeth or manage certain symptoms. They're not the right treatment for every type of TMD, so we determine whether an appliance is appropriate based on the diagnosis.
Do you recommend home care for TMD?
We may also recommend home care based on what's contributing to your symptoms. Following those recommendations is an important part of working together to manage your jaw discomfort and evaluate how you respond to treatment.
When do you refer patients to specialists for TMD?
Sometimes patients have structural changes or other problems involving the jaw joint that need additional evaluation. Depending on the findings and imaging, we may refer patients to an appropriate specialist for further diagnosis or treatments that aren't provided in our office.
How long does TMD treatment usually take?
How long TMD treatment takes depends on what's causing the symptoms and how the patient responds. We may begin with conservative home care and reassess the patient before deciding what additional treatment is appropriate.
If we're using other therapies, the number and timing of visits depend on the specific treatment and the patient's response. Because TMD can have many different causes, there isn't one treatment timeline that applies to everyone.
Is TMD more common in women?
Some temporomandibular disorders are reported more frequently in women, particularly among patients seeking treatment for TMD-related pain. Individual risk and symptoms still vary considerably from person to person.
Does dental insurance cover TMD treatment?
Coverage for TMD evaluation and treatment varies considerably. Depending on the service and your plan, coverage may fall under dental insurance, medical insurance, or may not be covered. We recommend reviewing your individual benefits before beginning treatment.
When should you see a dentist about TMD?
If you're experiencing clicking or popping along with pain, persistent jaw discomfort, limited movement, or other symptoms that concern you, it's a good idea to have the area evaluated. We can look at what's happening and determine what the appropriate next step may be.
Want to learn more? Call Comfy Dental Studios at (310) 499-2048 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your visit.