An Overview of Dental TMJ Injuries

TMJ refers to the Temporomandibular Joint, or the joint that connects the jaw to the rest of the skull.  This joint allows one to perform basic functions such as opening the mouth chewing, and swallowing.  Injuries to the TMJ can result in many complications for the victim, including:

• Facial pain
• Jaw locking while open or closed
• Pain in the jaw joint and ears
• Neck, back, and shoulder pain
• Headaches
• Bite that feels "off," as if it is constantly changing
• Swelling on the face

TMJ injuries can be sustained during dental procedures if the dentist is not careful or is negligent in a procedure they are performing, such as the pulling of wisdom teeth.  If you have developed a TMJ injury due to dental malpractice, it is important that you contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer who handles cases from Hackensack, Bergenfield, Union City, Jersey City, Paterson, Passaic, Clifton, Lodi, Little Ferry, Englewood and other Bergen and Hudson County communities.  With an attorney's help, you may be able to obtain compensation for your pain and suffering from the dentist or dental staff member responsible.

 Legal Assistance for Victims of Dental TMJ Injuries

Attorney Rafael Gomez is available to all those people living in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex Counties who are in need of help in their accident injury cases.  Our firm possesses many years of  legal experience, and we are intimately familiar with all manner of personal injury cases, including dental TMJ cases and cases that involve car accidents.  Contact our offices today if you require assistance in your case, and we will employ all legal avenues available to us in an attempt to secure an outcome that is wholly beneficial to you.

If you have suffered a TMJ injury caused by a car accident, contact Bergen/Hudson County New Jersey Injury Lawyer Rafael Gomez

TMJ disorders cause tenderness and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) — the joint on each side of your head in front of your ears, where your lower jawbone meets your skull. This joint allows you to talk, chew and yawn.

TMJ disorders can be caused by many different types of problems — including arthritis, jaw injury, or muscle fatigue from clenching or grinding your teeth.

In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders can be alleviated with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Severe TMJ disorders may need to be treated with dental or surgical interventions.

In some cases, the symptoms of TMJ disorders may go away without treatment. If your symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend medications or a bite guard to help keep you from grinding your teeth at night. In very rare cases, surgery may be required to repair or replace the joint.

Medications

• Painkillers. If over-the-counter pain medications aren't enough to relieve TMJ pain, your doctor or dentist may prescribe stronger painkillers.
• Tricyclic antidepressants. Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline, taken at bedtime help relieve TMJ pain in some people.
• Muscle relaxants. These types of drugs are sometimes used for a few days or weeks to help relieve pain caused by TMJ disorders.
• Corticosteroid drugs. For significant pain and joint inflammation, corticosteroid drugs injected into the joint space may provide relief.
• Botulinum toxin. Injecting botulinum toxin (Botox, others) into the jaw muscles used for chewing may relieve pain associated with TMJ disorders.

Therapies

• Bite guard. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you may benefit from wearing a soft or firm device inserted over your teeth. This bite guard prevents your teeth from meshing together. Bite guards sometimes aggravate sleep apnea symptoms.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy. If your symptoms of TMJ disorder are made worse by poorly managed stress or anxiety, your doctor or dentist may refer you to a psychotherapist with experience in cognitive behavioral therapy. This approach includes interventions to help you be aware of and change behaviors, learn relaxation techniques, and manage stress.

Surgical or other procedures

• Corrective dental treatment. Your dentist may improve your bite by balancing the biting surfaces of your teeth, replacing missing teeth, or replacing needed fillings or crowns. However, these types of treatments sometimes worsen TMJ pain.
• Arthrocentesis. This procedure involves insertion of a needle into the joint so that fluid can be irrigated through the joint to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts.
• Surgery. As a last resort, your doctor or dentist may suggest surgery to repair or replace the joint. But the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research considers TMJ surgery to be controversial and recommends that it be avoided whenever possible.