Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular joint DISORDERS and Bruxism
Temporomandibular joint disorders are complex disorders that show symptoms such as pain including chewing muscles, TMJ and adjacent tissues, restriction of jaw movements, coordination disorder and joint sounds. Bruxism is one of the most important factors that cause these disorders and the occurrence of stress of the day during sleep. The person closes their jaws tightly or moves their teeth by sliding them above each other. This habit causes tooth erosion or breakage, gingival recession and hot-cold sensitivity, head, neck, ear and back pain, limitation or no opening in the amount of mouth opening, sensitivity to touch or pain in the joint area, and sound from the joints while eating.
The treatment of which is usually made by preparing transparent plaques of various thicknesses according to the level of the problem and proper to teeth and by measuring the size of the teeth. Soft diet is recommended, moist heat is applied. Painkillers and myorelaxants are applied. In addition to these treatments, invasive treatment methods can be applied according to the type and level of the disorder. Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgeons determine the treatment procedures.