TMJ Pain – Do You have a Slipped Disc?
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is related to the two joints that join your jawbone (mandible) to your skull. These joints are found just in front of your ears. The TMJ is the only joint in the body that you can have a slipped disc – read on for more info!
The TMJ are small mobile joints that allow the range of motion of your jaw to allow you to yawn, laugh, speak, and chew. Within these joints is a small disc that moves back and forth with jaw movement to allow congruency between the jaw and the skull. When you open your mouth the disc moves forward then relocates when you close your mouth.
A combination of ligaments and muscles control the motion of the disc in the TMJ with mouth opening and closing which allows the disc to be repositioned back into position when the jaw is closed after opening.
There are two ways that cause this disc to be displaced. Firstly, trauma to the jaw can result in ligament damage but more commonly is repetitive microtrauma causing soft tissue changes leading to the disc slipping forward in the TMJ. Common causes are clenching or grinding your teeth, chewing on one side of the jaw, hypermobility, or increased muscle activity of some of the facial muscles.
Symptoms are clicking with opening and closing your mouth with associated pain when this occurs. Occasionally your jaw may lock. As the condition worsens, the clicking may decreased but the range of opening of your mouth will decrease as the disc has slipped forward restricting the movement of your mandible. Having a slipped disc (termed anterior disc displacement) can limit what you can eat as your mouth opening is restricted and often normal chewing can be painful.
All Care Physiotherapy regularly treat clients who have jaw pain. Our Physios complete an assessment of your jaw function and provide treatment that can improve jaw range of movement, reduce muscle tightness and give exercises for you to self manage this condition. We will often work with your Dentist if there is an associated bite dysfunction.
If you are suffering from TMJ pain then book an appointment today with our TMJ Physios who can provide effective treatment for you today.