TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

What is TMJ?

We see patients from all over the Seattle Eastside area who are referred from other physicians and dentists for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of their TMJ concerns. This page will help you learn a little more about this condition. The best thing you can do is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Soltero. If you are suffering from these symptoms, please call our Seattle Dentist Eastside Bellevue Dentist Office at (425) 454-2005 and schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you with your condition.

The Temporo-Mandibular Joint is the joint where the mandible (the lower jaw) meets the temporal bone of the skull, immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. A small piece of cartilage separates the bones, similar to the knee joint, so that the mandible may slide easily. You move it every time you chew. But you also move it every time you talk and each time you swallow (every three minutes or so). So, it is one of the most frequently used of all joints of the body and one of the most complex.

You can find this joint by putting your finger on the triangular structure in front of your ear. Then move your finger forward a bit and press while you open your jaw all the way and shut it. The movement you feel is the joint. You can also feel the joint motion in your ear canal. These maneuvers can be painful to a patient who is having trouble, and physicians use these maneuvers with patients for diagnosis.

What is the function of the Temporomandibular Joint?

When you bite down hard, you put force on the object between your teeth and on the joint. Actually, more force is applied (per square foot) to the joint surface than to whatever is between your teeth. To handle these forces and to stop too much wear and tear, the cartilage between the mandible and skull normally provides a smooth surface, over which the joint can freely slide with minimal friction.

Therefore, the forces of chewing can be distributed over a wider surface in the joint space and minimize the risk of injury. In addition, several muscles contribute to opening and closing the jaw and aid in its function.

Symptoms of TMJ Problems

• Ear pain
• Sore jaw muscles
• Temple/cheek pain
• Jaw popping/clicking
• Locking of the jaw
• Difficulty in opening the mouth fully
• Frequent head/neck aches

What does TMJ Feel  Like?

The pain may be sharp, happening every time you swallow, yawn, talk, or chew, or it may be dull and constant. It hurts over the joint, just in front of the ear, but pain can also be in other places. It often causes spasms in the muscles that are connected to the bones of the skull, face, and jaws. Then, pain can be felt at the side of the head (the temple), the cheek, the lower jaw, and the teeth.

A very common place to feel the pain is in your ear. Often times you may go to the doctor absolutely sure your pain is from an earache. When your earache is not from hearing loss and the eardrum looks normal, the doctor will consider the possibility that the pain comes from a TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ can cause more than just pain. It can make annoying sounds like popping, clicking, or grinding when your jaws are opened all the way. Or your jaw may lock wide open (dislocated). At the other extreme, TMJ dysfunction can prevent the jaws from opening all the way. You may also get ringing in your ears from TMJ trouble.

How Can Things go Wrong?

In most people, TMJ pain comes from the cartilage disc being out of place that causes pressure and stretching of the sensory nerves. The popping or clicking happens when the disk snaps into place when the jaw moves. Also, the chewing muscles may spasm, not work well, and cause pain and tenderness.

Both major and minor injuries to the jaw can also add to the development of TMJ problems. If you clench often, grit, or grind your teeth, you increase the wear on the cartilage lining of the joint, and it doesn't have a chance to get better. Many people don’t even know they grind their teeth, unless they’re told they do.

Chewing gum much of the day can cause similar problems. Stress and other psychological factors have also seem to contribute to TMJ dysfunction. Other causes include teeth that do not fit well together (improper bite), malpositioned jaws, and arthritis. In some cases, having the cartilage disc out of place often and consistent wear in the cartilage lining of the joint space can cause further harm.

What Can Be Done for TMJ?

Contact Us

The best thing you can do for TMJ is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Soltero. If you are suffering from these symptoms, please call our Seattle Bellevue Dentist Office at (425) 454-2005 and schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you with your condition.