Symptoms of jaw joint disorder
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By Lee Sung-hun
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint of the jaw, and is one of the most frequently used in our body. It is used when we speak, chew or swallow food, and even when we yawn and sneeze. The two TMJs (one on each side) are the joints between the upper temporal bones and the lower jaw bone called the mandible, and they are located immediately in front of the ears. TMJs are supported by the jaw muscles and ligaments, and the articular discs act as a cushion between the bones, much like the intervertebral discs. When one or more parts of the TMJ components, be it the muscles, ligaments, disc or the bones, exhibit pain and other symptoms, it is called a TMJ disorder.
Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders can seem so commonplace, and many don’t feel the need for treatment. Some patients, due to lack of information, do not seek proper treatment in time and may suffer from chronic pain and discomfort. Particularly, if the TMJ disc is displaced, it is impossible to restore it to the normal state, requiring constant monitoring and treatment.
TMJs are closely related to the spine to the extent where they are referred to as vertebra 0. In terms of treating spine-related ailments, TMJs sometimes play a crucial role. As they are physically the closest joints to the brain, in Oriental medicine TMJ treatments are frequently part of treating brain function related disorders.
There are many different causes for TMJ disorders. In the clinic, we often see TMJ disorders caused by favoring one side of the mouth when chewing food, or by chewing on something hard like dried squid, or even by overly extending the jaw when yawning. Sometimes it can be caused by sleeping face down on one’s side. It can also be caused by certain habits such as resting the chin on one’s hand, grinding teeth, or biting on fingernails or pens. External injuries due to accidents or contusion can also be the cause.
One of the common symptoms of a TMJ disorder is trismus, the inability to open the mouth normally. Ordinarily, a normal person should be able to fit three fingers vertically in his open mouth, but if you cannot, trismus could be suspected. Another symptom is the loud clicking or popping noise when opening the mouth. It is caused by the displaced disc, disabling the smooth motion of the TMJ. Patients notice that after a pop the mouth opens up normally. TMJ disorders can also cause pain in the neck and shoulder area. C1 and C2 (cervical) vertebrae are in close proximity to the TMJ, and they are mutually affected by each other. If the TMJ is twisted or misplaced, the cervical vertebrae twist along, to cause pain in the neck and shoulder areas. Other symptoms of TMJ disorders include tension type headaches, or even migraine due to pressured nerves and blood vessels, or ringing in the ear, or earaches without an infection.
In Oriental medicine, treatment methods for TMJ disorders include Chuna-chiropractic, acupuncture and the usage of splints. Chuna-chiropractic treatment directly addresses the tension in the muscles and the ligaments in the TMJ, and also corrects the alignment of cervical vertebrae that might have been affected. Acupuncture is another effective way to relax the soft tissues in the TMJ. Splints are employed when the TMJ disorder is chronic or severe to adjust and maintain the position of TMJ.
Patients with acute TMJ disorders can see improvements after one to two weeks of Chuna-chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. Those with chronic TMJ disorders may require three to six months of treatment along with the use of splints.
As mentioned at the beginning, TMJs are used daily, and most people may suffer from minor disorders that they don’t necessarily regard as discomfort. One easy way to diagnose misalignment of TMJ is to use a mirror. While biting the teeth, if the gaps between the upper and lower front teeth do not align in a straight line, or while slowly opening and closing the mouth, the jaw bone is not moving up and down but in a zigzag fashion or tilted to one side, you may suspect a disorder in the TMJ. Such people should pay a close attention to their TMJ, as the symptoms may worsen over the years.
The writer practices Korean Oriental Medicine at UN Oriental Medical Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul. He can be reached at sung—hun@naver.com.