The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a composition of bones with several components. It provides the opening and closing of the mouth, chewing, and the ability to talk. Unfortunately, this joint can hurt at any age; there are multiple causes for this condition. 

If the jaw joint hurts, not only the general health of a person decreases, but their quality of life as well; it will be a problem to yawn and actively chew, acute pain pierces while opening the mouth, and the joint can get stuck in the open position. Some doctors specialize in TMJ treatment; they usually work in dentistry clinics.

The Common Causes of TMJ Pain

A variety of reasons can lead to  pain in the temporomandibular joint:

  • All types of fractures. The pain occurs as a response to a powerful physical impact directly on the specified place.
  • Osteomyelitis. This is an infectious inflammatory process with localization in the bone tissue of the lower jaw. It is often accompanied by increased body temperature and swelling in lymph nodes.
  • Cranial neuralgia. This is inflammation of the nerves of the skull. The joint can hurt only on the right or on the left; with palpation, the uncomfortable sensation increases sharply.
  • Arthritis (traumatic, rheumatoid, or purulent). It can occur as a complication of chronic tonsillitis, the result of flu, or severe hypothermia.
  • Osteoarthritis. It mostly affects people 50 years and older and is associated with age-related changes.

However, the most common cause of pain is dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. This means that one of the components of the bone connection is not functioning correctly.

The Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction

Pain can be permanent or intermittent, local or spread all over the joint. Usually, the following symptoms indicate dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint:

  • Clicking sound or a crunch while opening the mouth;
  • Pain while chewing that disappears immediately after stabilization of the jaw;
  • Displacement of the bite, excessive abrasion of the enamel surface of the teeth;
  • Spasms of the chewing muscles when the pain radiates to the ear.

Clinical manifestations can be very different due to multiple causes that provoke dysfunction of the mandibular bone connection. In addition, sometimes there are other pathologies. For example, pain near the ear may indicate the development of middle ear inflammation.

What to Do if the Mandibular Joint Hurts

First, you need to undergo an examination by contacting a doctor specializing in maxillofacial pathologies. The patient may be prescribed the following:

  • A general clinical blood test to identify a latent inflammatory process;
  • MRI to assess the structure of the TMJ tissues;
  • Arthroscopy using a fiber optic device to identify changes in the mandibular joint;
  • Electromyography to assess the potential of the chewing system, and the functional state of the teeth;
  • Densitometry to determine the density of bone tissue and the level of calcium in it.

It is usually not difficult to treat the mandibular joint. For this, the following techniques can be used:

  • Physical therapy sessions;
  • Injectable muscle relaxants and painkillers;
  • Orthopedic methods – cap, bite pads.

It is important to relieve the painful joint from stress. If conservative methods do not give positive dynamics, botox injections for hyperactive muscles or intra-articular steroid injections can be used.

If the cause of pain in the mandibular joint is its deformation, minimally invasive surgery can solve the problem. But the percentage of people who need such complex treatment with long-term rehabilitation is small.

In case of malocclusion, dentists will carry out complex prosthetics with a parallel production of overlays according to an individual cast for each tooth. Then, they will work gradually on placing the joint into its normal place. It’s a lengthy and complicated process, but the result is worth it.