(Health Korea News / Hyunje Kim) November 9th is Temporomandibular Joint Day established by the Korean Society of Facial Pain and Oral Medicine. This day is a day to strengthen publicity about patients with temporomandibular joint disorders and their high prevalence. In order to emphasize the urgency of treatment, November 9th was designated as the anniversary every year, inspired by the emergency number ‘119’.
The chin is located in the center of the face and plays an essential role in chewing food and speaking. The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex and sensitive joints among the many joints in our body. It connects the mandible (lower jaw) and temporal bone (skull) and is located right in front of both ears. The temporomandibular joint supports all movements of opening and closing the mouth. If you feel discomfort due to ‘joint sounds’ that occur when you open your mouth and pain when chewing, you may suspect a temporomandibular joint disorder.
Temporomandibular joint disorders are caused by various causes such as bad habits, stress, malocclusion, and trauma. Among them, habits that put strain on the temporomandibular joint are considered the main cause of temporomandibular joint disorders. Frequent chewing of hard or chewy foods, falling asleep with clenched teeth, biting nails with front teeth, or chewing food on only one side constantly puts pressure on the temporomandibular joint. In addition, psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and tension, as well as malocclusion, traffic accidents, and trauma can worsen temporomandibular joint disorders.
The causes of temporomandibular joint disorders are very complex. Therefore, the cause must be identified in detail through diagnosis. The underlying cause and condition can be accurately determined only after various diagnostic processes, including mandibular range of motion test, temporomandibular joint sound test, muscle palpation test, and radiography test.
The typical symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder is pain. Pain occurs around the jaw and ears when chewing, and a crackling sound may occur when the jaw moves. When you open your mouth, your jaw may not open properly or feels stuck, and in severe cases, your mouth may not be able to open at all.
Temporomandibular joint disorder can cause pain that spreads not only to the jaw, but also to the head, neck, and shoulders. When muscle tension is accompanied by temporomandibular joint disorder, headaches or neck pain frequently occur and shoulders easily become stiff. Temporomandibular joint disorder affects various body parts and causes complex symptoms that can significantly reduce quality of life.
Once the temporomandibular joint is damaged, it is difficult to recover, so early treatment is more important than anything else. The basis of treatment is to protect the temporomandibular joint from further damage, and depending on the symptoms and cause, occlusal treatment, drug treatment, physical therapy, exercise therapy, and behavioral therapy are performed.
Occlusal stabilizer (sprint) therapy is a treatment that reduces the habit of clenching teeth by installing an occlusal stabilizer or adjusts the occlusal position to relax muscles and protect teeth. Physical therapy or exercise therapy can help relieve pain by relaxing the muscles in the jaw, neck, and shoulders. Muscle relaxants, painkillers, and tranquilizers may be prescribed as needed, and for severe muscle pain, Botox injections can be used to relieve tension. If it is necessary to relieve stress and tension, relaxation exercises or psychological counseling may be combined. Through biofeedback, patients can also train themselves to maintain muscle relaxation.
In order to prevent temporomandibular joint disorders, improving lifestyle habits is more important than anything else. Avoid caffeine, salty foods, and alcohol, and avoid hard or chewy foods. Reduce the habit of clenching your teeth and be careful not to open your mouth wide. Also, reduce stress and get enough sleep. Maintaining correct posture is also important to maintain temporomandibular joint health.
Let me emphasize once again that once the temporomandibular joint is damaged, it is difficult to recover, so early prevention and proper management are key. As small habits in our daily lives have a big impact on the health of our joints, it is necessary to improve habits that put strain on the temporomandibular joint. (Written by Professor Kim Hyun-je of Dentistry, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University)
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Source: www.hkn24.com
