Temporomandibular joint: structure and treatment of pathologies

Diagnostics and treatment of dysfunctions of the temporomandibular joint is impossible without thorough study of the structure and work of this organ.

The temporomandibular joint in its structure is the most complex organ in the human body, as it possesses a pair and performs combinations of movements, consisting of rotation and sliding around the floating center. Each movement of the lower jaw requires both joints strictly coordinated and simultaneous interaction.

The temporomandibular joint is formed by the mandibular fossa, the mandible head with the condylar process and the composite tubercle of the temporal bone. The mandibular head along the periphery is bordered by a thin layer of compact bone and has a spongy structure. In front of the organ is a pterygoid flat fossa with attached fibers of the pterygoid muscle. Outside, on the surface of the upper third of the neck and head, the tuberosity passes vertically, which is the place for attachment of ligaments and muscles. The joint cavity before the glazer slit occupies the entire tympanic pad, the posterior surface of the articular tubercle and its apex.

Temporomandibular joint: diseases

At internal disturbances at the first stage there are chronic dislocations of a head of a jaw. Usually there are no complaints, only sometimes patients can talk about wrong and unpleasant movements of the body. During the examination, the doctor determines the normal position of the disc. At the next stage, subluxation of the disc may occur as a result of overstretch of intraarticular ligaments. When you open your mouth in the TMJ, clicks appear.

Common methods of diagnosis (MR and CT-tomography, arthrography) do not allow to determine the deviation when the mouth is closed or open, indicating the norm. Find the displacement of the disk is possible only in dynamics, applying ultrasound, x-ray control and arthrography.

It should be noted that any form of TMJ disturbances can be accompanied by inflammatory processes associated with chronic tissue trauma, a pathological permanent strain of ligaments within the joints, which is accompanied by pain.

In different patients, the development of stages of the disease is different and depends on many factors. The duration of the transition can be several years, and sometimes the disease develops within a few months. Therefore, in order to prevent the formation of pathology in time, you should pay attention to the first symptoms and to normalize the condition of the articular disk, it is necessary to appoint appropriate treatment at the initial stages of the disease.

Temporomandibular joint: symptoms of disorders

You can talk about the development of pathology when there is a pain syndrome in the area of the shell of the ears, with the sensations of limited jaw movements, with clicks in the areas of the temporomandibular joints. Symptoms of the disease include impaired mobility of the lower jaw, pain in the chewing muscles, spasms with the jaw closed and open.

TMJ: treatment

The purpose of therapy of dysfunctions is to stop the causes of the onset of the disease and reduce the degree of severity of factors contributing to the development of the ailment. Often the causes that contribute to the development of the disease are nervous stresses, excessive physical exertion, the presence of adentia in the oral cavity, irrational dentures.

Treatment of the TMJ is to determine the morphological and functional changes, normalize the work of the body and prevent the development of further pathologies. To do this, comprehensive measures are taken with the involvement of specialists - dentists, neuropathologists, rheumatologists, allergists and others.