There are many medical conditions that can affect the lower jaw bone. This article will discuss how oral health can affect the lower jaw bone. Keep in mind that losing a tooth is an important factor of jaw bone issues as a missing tooth can lead to jaw bone deterioration.
Lower jaw bone diseases
There are many diseases that may affect the lower jaw bone. Missing teeth is the cause for most of these diseases. The reasons for this is because missing teeth can cause bone loss in the jaw.
What causes lower jaw bone diseases
There are many ways a person can have lower jaw bone diseases.
Temporomandibular joint disorders
There are many issues that may affect the lower jaw bone and the temporomandibular joint. This joint is the one that connects the upper jaw to the lower jaw bone. Issues with the temporomandibular joint can cause loss of function to the joint and can cause problems and pain when a person chews, speaks and tries to move the joint.
The joint consists of a disk that protects the upper and lower jaw bones from touching and causing friction to each other. The disk will prevent damage to the jaw bones and make sure that a person can continue to perform normal daily activities such as talking, chewing and yawning.
How temporomandibular joint disorders can affect the jaws
If there are issues with the temporomandibular joint, a person can experience pain in their jaws. If there is something wrong with the disk that is in the joint, Any action that requires the movement of the jaw bones can be affected if the disk in the joint has sustained damage.
Signs of temporomandibular joint disorders
If you experience any one of these signs, it may mean that you may have a disorder with your temporomandibular joint. Before the condition worsens, it is best to seek treatment for the temporomandibular joint disorder as soon as possible.
Here is a list of signs that you may already have a temporomandibular joint condition that can affect your jaws and other parts of your body.
- Restriction from opening your mouth
If you feel pain whenever you try to open your mouth, this may be a sign of damage to the temporomandibular joint. Most of the time, any movement in the lower jaw bone can cause pain ranging from mild discomfort to extreme pain all around the jaw bone area.
- Pain
If there is pain, this is usually the body’s way of telling a person that there is something wrong. Pain should never be taken lightly. The same should be said for pain in the jaw bone, or in the temporomandibular joint. Even if the main or discomfort may only be minor in some cases, if the pain in the jaw bone or joint is not given proper medical attention and treatment, there is a chance that the condition may worsen and cause more problems in the long run.
- Sounds and noises
If you hear sounds and noises, even in the absence of pain in the temporomandibular joint, this may also be a sign that something is wrong with your TMJ. The sounds may be a cracking or clicking sound. If there is no pain when you try to move your jaw, there is no need for immediate treatment and medical attention. However, once the pain is felt in the jaw bone area, or on the temporomandibular joint, talk to your doctor as soon as you can.
- Damaged teeth
Disorders in the temporomandibular joint can also cause teeth grinding. You may unknowingly grind your teeth while you sleep at night because of disorders of the temporomandibular joint or the jaws. Grinding of the teeth may cause the teeth to crack and be damaged. This can cause tooth sensitivity.
Cause of temporomandibular joint disorders
If you feel pain in your temporomandibular joint, or feel discomfort in your jawbones as well, there are certain causes that can cause this pain or any disorder in the temporomandibular joint as a whole. Getting treated for these pains will help a person avoid having to undergo treatment for more serious types of conditions that affect the teeth, jaws and temporomandibular joint in the long run. Listed here are the most common causes of disorders of the temporomandibular joint.
Stress to the temporomandibular joint
Teeth grinding can cause the teeth and jaws to become damaged and worn down. Many people are often unaware of their teeth grinding because it happens while they are asleep. Signs of teeth grinding is the feeling of stress and soreness in the jawbone when a person wakes up.
Trauma to the jaws
If a person has been in an accident or fight, there is a chance that there will be damage and trauma to the temporomandibular joint and to the jaws as well. This damage can cause wear and tear to the temporomandibular joint and cause the pain that the person feels.
Arthritis
The pain of the temporomandibular joint, along with the disorders associated with it can be caused by arthritis, or the inflammation of the joints.
Do you think you have a disease affecting your jawbone?
If you are experiencing pain in your jaw bones, or if you hear sounds coming from your jawbones that is accompanied by pain, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about your symptoms as soon as you can.
Your doctor will be able to diagnose the disorders that are related to the jaws and temporomandibular joint. X rays of the jaw will help the doctor determine if you have a temporomandibular joint disorder. There may be something wrong with the muscles in your face or damage to the disk in the jaw bone. These conditions affecting your jaw bone and the temporomandibular joint can be diagnosed by the use of simple X rays. However, more complicated cases will require more complicated imaging techniques. Talk to your doctor if you are apprehensive about this.
Treatment for temporomandibular joint and jaw bone problems
If you need to undergo any type of treatment, your doctor will recommend the treatment method that will give the most benefits to you. Below is a list of treatments that can be used to help a person with their jaw disorders.
Medicines
There are medications that can be used to help a person manage the swelling and pain that is associated with temporomandibular joint and jaw bone pain. Doctors will be able to prescribe these medicines to patients who need them.
Therapy
Therapy can also be applied to help a person coping with jaw bone pain. Special mouth guards can be used to reduce the pressure caused by tooth griding.
Tooth restoration
If a person has missing teeth, there is a chance that the jaw bone will sustain further damage as time goes by. Getting tooth restoration procedures done will ensure that the jaw bone will not get damaged more in the long run.
Stress management
Stress management and counseling techniques will help a person stop tooth grinding or bruxism. Getting professional help and treatment for bruxism will also help jaw bone disorders and temporomandibular diseases from developing later on.
