What is TMJ Disorder? – TMJ Splints in Bharuch

TMJ, or the temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects your lower jaw with your skull. In the facial skeleton, your lower jaw is the only movable bone. This movement is possible because of TMJ. Any pain or discomfort in the TMJ or surrounding areas is referred to as temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD.

At Sindha Dental Clinic, our chief dentist Dr. Dharmendra Sindha will clinically examine and radiologically analyze your case before formulating a treatment plan. 

TMJ Disorder symptoms –  TMJ Splints in Bharuch

Facial pain

The dull aching pain starts from the joint and radiates toward the temple area. It is worsened by chewing or moving the jaw.

Ear pain

It is a Sharpshooting kind of ear pain that occurs during jaw movements. It may be associated with a ringing sensation and ear stuffiness.

Jaw dysfunction

The most common sign of jaw dysfunction is the clicking or popping sounds made during movement.

Other symptoms

• Lower jaw muscle pain
• Eye pain
• Dizziness
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Poor sleep

Causes of  TMJ Disorder

• Misalignment of the teeth
• Poor head and neck posture
• Trauma to the joint
• Teeth grinding or clenching
• Direct trauma to the teeth 
• Psychological factors like stress, anxiety, and depression
• Sleep apnea
• Tongue-tie
• The structural problem with the jaw anatomy
• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis

TMD Treatment –  TMJ Splints in Bharuch

Self-care

• Avoiding hard food items
• Warm compression of the joint
• Avoid moving the jaw
• Practice stabilizing the jaw at the rest position
• Doing jaw exercises and stretching

Medication

The anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve the pain, and you may need muscle relaxants for effective pain management. It should be noted that these medicines are just a temporary relief, and to eliminate the pain from the root cause, it is vital to get your complete examination done by our head dentist Dr. Dharmendra Sindha at Sindha Dental Clinic, Bharuch, 

What is Splint Therapy? –  TMJ Splints in Bharuch

You must have heard about splint therapy for twisted ankles and broken wrists. But have you heard of splint therapy in dentistry? Let’s find out what exactly it is. Splint therapy is a treatment modality for TMD disorders arising from bite-related issues. Now you must be wondering how to splint therapy works.

 Some of the ways by which splint therapy works are:

• It helps relax the jaw muscles and tensed ligaments to alleviate the pain.
• The bite plate or the night guard used helps in preventing the teeth from clenching and wearing down of the teeth.
• It also improves the alignment of the jaw to overcome underbite or overbite issues. The mouthguards used in splint therapy are not standard but specifically engineered to enhance the TMD condition.

There are mainly two types of splint therapies- Stabilization and Repositioning splint therapy.  

Stabilization Splint

People with severe teeth-grinding habits are ideal for stabilization splint therapy. It works as a barrier that prevents teeth-to-teeth contact, and these mouthguards are worn overnight as maximum teeth grinders clench their teeth during the night while sleeping.

Repositioning Splint

In some cases, the joint may move out of its original position due to bony growth, trauma, or excessive wear of the supporting ligaments. The resulting bite in such cases is impaired and leads to extreme pressure on the joint. The repositioning splint therapy helps move the joint back into its original position. It improves jaw alignment and relieves bite issues.