The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most frequently used and complex joints in the body, comprising muscles, blood vessels, nerves and bones. It connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone), and is situated on either side of the head in front of the ears.
Being a flexible hinge joint, the TMJ can move side to side as well as up and down – movements undertaken during tasks such as talking, chewing and yawning. Its movement and position are controlled by muscles and ligaments attached to it and surrounding it.
A condition known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is the likely cause when there are problems with any of these jaw joints, and this can be characterised by headaches, ear and jaw pain, bite and jaw problems, limited jaw function or even neck and shoulder pains.
A/Professor Adrian Yap, Dental Director and Specialist in Prosthodontics at Raffles Specialist Dental Centre, elaborates, “TMD is essentially a collective term that embraces a group of dental and medical conditions involving the jaw joints, chewing muscles and associated structures. It is the major cause of non-dental facial pain and can significantly affect one’s quality of life.”
Since the signs and symptoms of TMD mimic those of many other conditions, accurate diagnosis is crucial. Without the right expertise and equipment, this may prove to be a challenge.
Raffles Dental, operating on a team-based concept, has at its disposal the use of precision and state-of-the-art equipment like MRI and CT scans. These devices allow its team of experienced dental surgeons to treat a comprehensive range of dental conditions, ranging from general dentistry to the more complicated issues associated with the diagnosis and treatment of TMD.
“The treatment for TMD largely depends on the type of conditions the patient suffers from. To ascertain this, a comprehensive history analysis, a physical examination and if necessary, a mental wellness screening can all be undertaken,” says A/Professor Yap.
Once the underlying cause of TMJ has been identified, an appropriate treatment can then be delivered, to achieve the goals of decreasing adverse loading to jaw joints and muscles, restoring function and normal activities, and improving quality of life.
More often than not, such dental treatment usually begins with conservative therapies that do not invade the tissues of the face, jaw, or joints.
These include:
- Education and self-care;
- Behaviour modification of harmful habits;
- Psychotherapy including stress management and relaxation techniques;
- Medications;
- Physical therapy (e.g. TENS, ultrasound, etc); and
- Dental splint therapy.