Symptoms and treatment of arthrosis of the maxillofacial joint

1 Manifestations of pathology

When arthrosis of the maxillofacial joint develops, at the initial stage the cartilage covering the head of the jaw becomes thinner and then completely disappears. The body tries to compensate for this loss on its own, however this tissue can not be regenerated, therefore it is replaced by bone tissue, which in turn leads to the fact that the joint changes its shape and can not work as before.

Symptoms that are characteristic of this disease, for a long time may not be manifested at all. However, if the joints are heavily stressed, the pain will result. If you do not pay attention to them, then after a while the pain will arise more often. As a result, it will appear even during minor jaw loads, for example, when chewing or talking.

The disease can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• discomfort during chewing food on one side of the joint;
• face asymmetry;
• clicks or crunch when opening the mouth;
• difficulty in opening the mouth wider than usual, after a while, an unpleasant sensation may appear even at a time when the patient slightly opens his mouth;
• pain in the morning during jaw movements;
• intense state of the chewing muscles;
• discomfort and pain in the eyes, ears, jaw;
• hearing loss and constant headaches during complications of the disease.

Thus, the most characteristic discomfort, which brings arthrosis of the maxillofacial joint, manifests itself first in the morning, so during this period should be particularly careful. If the symptoms listed above are identified, you should see the doctor immediately. During the day, no signs of the patient can not bother, so many do not pay attention to discomfort. But it's not right. After all, when the disease develops, the symptoms will appear throughout the day.

As for the asymmetry of the face, it manifests itself in the form of a displacement of the lower jaw to the right or left, while the lips begin to fall.

It is important to consult a specialist for the reason that some of the symptoms characteristic of arthrosis can be detected only by radiography. So, the doctor after the procedure will be able to see that the joint head has reduced the height, changed the shape( the joint may have a hook-shaped, clavate or pointed shape during the disease) or its flattening occurred. In addition, there are also bone growths, which are also called osteophytes.

Before treating arthrosis of the jaw joint, it is important to conduct a complete diagnosis of the disease, which consists of the following procedures: radiography, which can give an accurate indication;electromyography, which will record how the lower jaw moves. With this help you can determine the pathology. In addition, a specialist can prescribe magnetic resonance imaging, which will help to identify arthrosis of the jaw joint even at the earliest stages.

2 Therapeutic treatment methods

When referring to a doctor, a comprehensive treatment is prescribed. This will include various therapeutic measures, that is, medications and physiotherapy procedures. In addition, during the treatment you can not do without diet and correction of the patient's lifestyle, which includes the elimination of bad habits. If this is necessary, then it is presumed to be orthopedic or surgical.

When there is arthrosis of the maxillofacial joint, not only tablets can be prescribed, but also special gels or ointments that are aimed at eliminating the pain. As a rule, they also have anti-inflammatory properties. Among the most common are Ibufen or Ketorol, etc. To improve the tissue of cartilage, ligaments and tendons, the specialist prescribes the so-called chondroprotectors.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in treatment, during which ultrasound procedures, laser, microwave therapy, magnetotherapy and electrophoresis are prescribed.

Particularly effective are warm-ups, which are performed on the basis of medical bile with the help of diluted Dimexide. In this case, the physiotherapist appoints exercises that will strengthen the maxillofacial joint. All of the above procedures have anti-inflammatory effect, they improve blood circulation. Therefore, with their help, you can get rid of the painful sensations that the disease delivers in a short time. Such manipulations can also be used as preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of new outbreaks of arthrosis.

During the treatment should follow a diet. So, the nutrition correction is aimed at reducing the load on the jaw, and also include in the diet food containing carbohydrates, useful vitamins, in particular group B, and proteins. In all these substances, cartilage tissue is needed, and the bone mineral increases due to vitamin B12.In addition, in order to reduce the strain on the jaw joint, it is necessary to stop eating solid food for a while. Therefore, the diet should consist of a variety of cereals, soups, juices and milk.

It is important to follow an appropriate regimen that will exclude physical activity, particularly in the jaw area. In addition, you must adhere to the balance of work and leisure. If the period of exacerbation has come, then it is necessary to devote as much time as possible to rest. The patient should not suffer from emotional upheavals, so it should be protected from all sorts of stressful situations. During treatment it is necessary to give up chewing gum and long conversations. Teeth should not be strongly compressed.

Orthopedic therapy can also be prescribed by a doctor if it is necessary to ensure an even load on the jaw.

To correct the shape of the teeth or bite, you can use kapami, palatine plates, crowns, prostheses, which can be clasp or bridged. If this is necessary, the doctor installs special restrictors that are designed to open the mouth, or apparatus to change the plane of the bite.

3 Useful advice of

If you do not consult a specialist for a long time, complications can occur. In this case, arthrosis of the jaw joint may require surgical intervention, which will involve the removal of the affected joint disc or joint head( it may be replaced by a graft).Surgical intervention is necessary if the chewing ability of the patient has been completely lost. In this case, only the graft can return a person the ability to open his mouth and close it without feeling during this painful sensation.

Such radical measures can be avoided in case of starting treatment in a timely manner, namely at an early stage. Of course, there are ways and folk medicine, which are also aimed at eliminating the symptoms that arise during the disease, but before you try any of the home methods, it is important to consult with your doctor.