TMJ PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION AND OROFACIAL PAIN
Orofacial pain disorders
Orofacial pain disorders are highly common with variable levels of debilitation involving conditions of the head, face and cervical spine (neck) regions. The orofacial region is complex and involves many muscular systems working in symmetry to promote appropriate masticatory function and muscle control for biting, chewing, swallowing, kissing and talking. It is important that a thorough assessment is carried out to elicit appropriate diagnosis and management, with a multidisciplinary focus often required in many cases.
Conditions may include:
1. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including conditions of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), musculoskeletal system (masticatory clenching muscles), and contributing neck muscles and neural structures
2. There may also be neural conditions including trigeminal neuralgia TN, or conditions related to the different pain conditions of peripheral or central original
3. Psychological contribution such as mood and anxiety may be contributing sources
Temporomandibular Disorder or TMJ
TMD is considered a condition involving dysfunction of the masticatory musculature, TMJ and or other musculoskeletal disorders. Careful assessment is critical for appropriate screening and management and or referral on in some cases that may require surgical intervention. Treatment is dependent on variable factors including individual medical history, presenting symptoms, previous trauma, previous orthodontic or dental history, presence of sleep or breathing disorders, and present of concurrent injuries or pain conditions.
Symptoms:
• Jaw ache (cheeks/and in front of the ears of down along the jaw line)
• Earache
• Tooth ache
• Dizziness or tinnitus
• Painfully limited movement
• Clicking, locking or grinding noises
• Bruxism or clenching
• Facial pain and or headache
• Facial fullness or pressure sensation
Joint Disorders of the TMJ
Disorders may relate to disc-condyle incoordination with resultant influences on TMJ biomechanics. These conditions may involve disc pathology, or internal derangements such as disc displacements with displacement or potentially without (lock jaw) which could be symptomatic due to concurrent myalgic contribution (muscle) or inflammation (capsulitis or synovitis). Disc displacements without reduction typically involve painful limitation with associated changes in the pattern of opening to reflect the side of restriction (Romero-Reyes and Uyanik, 2014).
References:
Romero-Reyes, M., & Uyanik, J. M. (2014). Orofacial pain management: current perspectives. Journal of pain research, 7, 99–115. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S37593
Orofacial pain disorders are highly common with variable levels of debilitation involving conditions of the head, face and cervical spine (neck) regions. The orofacial region is complex and involves many muscular systems working in symmetry to promote appropriate masticatory function and muscle control for biting, chewing, swallowing, kissing and talking. It is important that a thorough assessment is carried out to elicit appropriate diagnosis and management, with a multidisciplinary focus often required in many cases.
Conditions may include:
1. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including conditions of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), musculoskeletal system (masticatory clenching muscles), and contributing neck muscles and neural structures
2. There may also be neural conditions including trigeminal neuralgia TN, or conditions related to the different pain conditions of peripheral or central original
3. Psychological contribution such as mood and anxiety may be contributing sources
Temporomandibular Disorder or TMJ
TMD is considered a condition involving dysfunction of the masticatory musculature, TMJ and or other musculoskeletal disorders. Careful assessment is critical for appropriate screening and management and or referral on in some cases that may require surgical intervention. Treatment is dependent on variable factors including individual medical history, presenting symptoms, previous trauma, previous orthodontic or dental history, presence of sleep or breathing disorders, and present of concurrent injuries or pain conditions.
Symptoms:
• Jaw ache (cheeks/and in front of the ears of down along the jaw line)
• Earache
• Tooth ache
• Dizziness or tinnitus
• Painfully limited movement
• Clicking, locking or grinding noises
• Bruxism or clenching
• Facial pain and or headache
• Facial fullness or pressure sensation
Joint Disorders of the TMJ
Disorders may relate to disc-condyle incoordination with resultant influences on TMJ biomechanics. These conditions may involve disc pathology, or internal derangements such as disc displacements with displacement or potentially without (lock jaw) which could be symptomatic due to concurrent myalgic contribution (muscle) or inflammation (capsulitis or synovitis). Disc displacements without reduction typically involve painful limitation with associated changes in the pattern of opening to reflect the side of restriction (Romero-Reyes and Uyanik, 2014).
References:
Romero-Reyes, M., & Uyanik, J. M. (2014). Orofacial pain management: current perspectives. Journal of pain research, 7, 99–115. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S37593