Expository on Tmj

Cassi Craven

5/3/2012

TMJ

One morning, I went to school like any other day, and by lunch time my whole face was swollen, and I couldn't close my mouth all the way, so it was just stuck half way open. I could barely talk, and it hurt really badly. So I went to the hospital and they drugged me up. The doctor had to physically pop my jaw back in. He then told me to open my mouth and close it, and as I was closing my mouth he pushed inward with his hands on my jaw, and it popped back in, and he did the other side to make sure everything was even. I didn't feel a thing, and it was over really quick. The doctor told my parents that I needed to go to a TMJ specialist to see if I now have TMJ. The specialist did confirm that I have TMJ. According to medicine Net, this is the definition of TMJ:

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the area directly in front of the ear on either side of the head where the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) meet. Within the TMJ, there are moving parts that allow the upper jaw to close on the lower jaw. This joint is a typical sliding "ball and socket" that has a disc sandwiched between it. The TMJ is used throughout the day to move the jaw, especially in biting and chewing, talking, and yawning. It is one of the most frequently used joints of the body. ("Temporomandibular)

TMJ is a permanent disorder but there are many way to live with it without having to have surgery.

A chiropractor is a good form of treatment. I like this solution the most because I have actually been going to a chiropractor for almost seven years, and he has helped me tremendously, not just for my jaw. For my jaw he puts this platform on one side of my face. The platform has an angle and it is meant to be pushed closed. So as it is under my jaw, he puts his hand on the other side of my jaw and pushes down, and it closes. He does it to that to each side about three times. It never hurts. He only does this when it is out of place or when my jaw has been spasming and I can't get it to calm down.

I have also been to the dentist, and they had to grind my teeth down because my wisdom teeth are making my other teeth move so when I close my mouth a high point on one of my teeth is all my bottom teeth would touch. That was making it hard for me to chew food, which I already have to be careful with. It also made my jaw spasm more from my teeth not lining up. After they grinded some of the high points down my teeth lined up better, and it actually helped a lot. Also, the dentist prescribes a mouth guard to be worn at night so I don't grind my teeth at night. When I grind my teeth at night, I will wake up hurting in the morning. Then it will spasm most of the day.

I have learned some at-home treatments that also help my jaw feel better