Dental advice to chew on

  • Published
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Temporomandibular disorders refer to various problems of the jaw that involve the facial muscles that control chewing and movement of the jaw. These disorders can be temporary or last for many years, according to dental officials.

Causes of TMD:

  • Injury to the jaw, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or muscles of the head and neck (i.e. whiplash)
  • Grinding or clenching teeth, muscle fatigue or pressure on the TMJ caused by tightening of the facial or jaw muscles (may be related to stress)
  • Dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket of the TMJ
  • Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ
Symptoms of TMD:
  • Pain or tenderness in the jaw joint area, especially when you chew or open your mouth wide
  • Limited ability to open the mouth wide
  • Jaw may get "stuck" or "lock" in either an open or closed position
  • Clicking, popping, or grating sounds when opening and closing the mouth (with or without pain)
  • Uncomfortable or uneven bite, teeth feel like they are not fitting together properly
  • Toothache, headache, earache, neck ache, shoulder pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears
TMD Diagnosis:

Your dentist will ask for a complete patient history and perform a clinical examination. It will be helpful if you can provide a list of symptoms, when the symptoms began, and whether or not certain activities trigger pain or symptoms. He or she will check for pain or tenderness, listen for sounds, check the range of motion of the jaw, check to see if the jaw locks, check the wear patterns of your teeth that may indicate grinding, and check for misalignment of the jaw caused by a high filling or tooth movement from previous tooth loss. X-rays, a CT scan or an MRI may be ordered.

TMD Treatment:

There are several treatments for TMD that range from conservative non-surgical options to surgery, with the latter being a last resort. Your dentist may recommend several of the following:
  • Eat soft foods, cut food into small bites, and avoid chewing gum, ice or sticky foods like candy
  • Apply a cold pack for 10 minutes, perform jaw stretching exercises as recommended by your dentist, apply a warm wash cloth for 5 minutes, repeat several times a day
  • Medication: over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Prescription muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety medications, or anti-depressants
  • Wear a night guard to alleviate clenching or grinding the teeth
  • Keep teeth from touching as much as possible to relieve pressure on the jaw, avoid jaw movement (i.e. large yawns, yelling, singing), keep good posture for your head and neck, practice relaxation techniques to relieve jaw muscle tension
  • Trigger-point injections of anesthetic or corticosteroids in the TMJ or jaw muscles
  • Arthrocentesis--inserting a needle into the joint so that fluid can be irrigated through the joint to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts
  • Surgery to repair or replace the TMJ
To schedule an annual exam/cleaning, or schedule a TMD evaluation, call the Grand Forks AFB Dental Clinic at DSN 362-5393 or 701-747-5393.

(Courtesy of the 319th Dental Flight)