Jaw joint problems
Many patients, especially women, experience problems with their jaw joints. The problem may start in the joint itself, or it may be caused by problems with the teeth or chewing muscles. One of the most common symptoms is clicking from the jaw joints when you open your mouth, which over time can make annoying noises when eating. Scraping sounds from the joints can also be annoying. Some people find that their jaw “locks” so that they cannot open their mouth fully. Others find that their jaw is easily dislocated and that their mouth locks in an open position. Still others suffer from pain, either from the joint itself, or from the head, neck or jaws. There can be many reasons why such joint pain occurs. They can often arise acutely, but can also be late effects of previous injuries. Damage to the joint itself can, for example, cause scar tissue formation that can result in clicking sounds. Prolonged and vigorous gaping can sometimes result in displacement of a small cartilage disc inside the joint. This can lead to clicking when gaping. Over time, this can result in locking of the jaw and reduced gaping height. Teeth pressing/grinding can also cause such problems over time. Many people can also experience head and neck pain as a result. It can often be difficult to see the cause of the pain because many people are unaware that they are grinding their teeth. Often they are not aware of this until the dentist informs them about it. It can therefore be a good idea to ask the dentist if conditions around the teeth may be related to pain in the head region. By providing advice and good information, the dentist can make patients aware of the problem itself, and the reason why it may have arisen. In many cases, this, along with simple exercises, is enough to reduce the problem or prevent it from getting worse. In other cases, plastic occlusal splints are used to relieve pressure on the jaw joints or muscles. Only in rare cases are braces or surgery necessary to solve problems in the jaw joint.