TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS
DEPARTMENT OF OROFACIAL PAIN AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS
The Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders department at Instituto Português da Face is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, education, treatment and rehabilitation of the pathology associated with facial pain.
Orofacial pain ("facial pain") can have different etiology:
- Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Myalgia Neurovascular Pain Neuropathic Pain Headaches Migraines Intra-oral Pathology
Since this pain can have different etiology, a multidisciplinary approach is essential - specialists in temporomandibular disorders, maxillofacial surgery, stomatology, neurology, otolaryngology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, oral medicine, physiotherapy, and speech therapy work together to find the best medical solutions.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS
What is temporomandibular joint?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located near the ear and is frequently used to perform essential activities of our daily lives such as eating, talking, smiling, and yawning. It is the most commonly used joint in the human body on a daily basis, about 2000x per day.
When this joint presents pathology, we can say that we have temporomandibular disorder(TMD).
When this joint presents pathology, we can say that we have temporomandibular disorder(TMD).
What are the most common signs and symptoms in a Temporomandibular Disorder?
The most common signs and symptoms of this disorder include :
- Facial and or/joint pain (often confused with ear pain)
- Joint popping/clicking
- Blocking or limitation of mouth opening
- Sensation of disarticulation of the jaws
- Muscle or neck tension/pressure
- Feeling "gritty" in the joint
- Headaches
What are the main causes of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)?
TMD is a multifactorial disease, meaning that there are different causes associated with this problem. These can be highlighted:
- Acute trauma
- Chronic traum
- Autoimmune pathology
- Tumors
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Tooth clenching
How is the diagnosis of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) made?
To make the diagnosis of TMD, in a first step, it is essential to listen to the patient's clinical history and perform the appropriate objective examination in order to obtain some diagnostic hypotheses.
In the medical history we will ask you some questions, such as: (1) when did you start having complaints; (2) how has the disease progressed; (3) have you had previous treatments; (4) the level of pain you have experienced in the last six months; (5) do you feel any limitation in opening your mouth.
After the first consultation, there may be a need for our Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorder specialists to ask you to perform:
In the medical history we will ask you some questions, such as: (1) when did you start having complaints; (2) how has the disease progressed; (3) have you had previous treatments; (4) the level of pain you have experienced in the last six months; (5) do you feel any limitation in opening your mouth.
After the first consultation, there may be a need for our Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorder specialists to ask you to perform:
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joints and/or;
- Computed Tomography of temporomandibular joints and/or;
- Orthopantomography and/or;
- Frontal X-ray.
The two most important muscles in chewing are the masseter muscle and the temporal muscle
TREATMENTS FOR TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS
Temporomandibular disorders can envolve the muscle and/or the temporomandibular joint and for that reason there are different therapeutic approaches, according to the diagnosis, which must be assertive and meticulous. Thus, for a given diagnosis, there may be a conservative and/or surgical treatment.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
SURGICAL TREATMENTS
OTHER FREQUENT PATHOLOGIES THAT CAUSE OROFACIAL PAIN
IPFACE TEAM ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR
Team
