What Are the Most Common Causes of Jaw Pain on One Side?

Temporomandibular joint disease refers to a group of diseases that involve the temporomandibular joint and / or the masticatory system, causing joint pain, popping, and restricted mouth opening. The temporomandibular joint is the only left and right joint of the whole body, and it is one of the most complicated joints in the human body. It consists of the temporal bone articular surface of the temporal bone, the condyle of the mandible, the joint disc between the two, the joint capsule around the joint, and the joint ligament. Osteoarthropathy is more common in adults around 45 years of age.

Basic Information

English name

temporomandibular arthrosis

Visiting department

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Multiple groups

Adults around 45

Common locations

Temporomandibular joint

Common symptoms

Joint pain, popping, and restricted mouth opening

Causes of temporomandibular joint disease

The cause of temporomandibular joint disease is unknown. Some scholars believe that mechanical injury, biochemistry and enzyme interactions can cause this disease. The main causes of secondary temporomandibular joint disease, such as continuous abnormal pressure on the joint, bite hard objects, lateral chewing, clenching teeth, trauma, etc., cause the cartilage on the surface of the joint to be destroyed first, leading to the disease. Disorders of occlusion, malocclusion, and occlusion can also cause temporomandibular joint disease. Temporomandibular joint disc displacement, joint disc perforation and temporomandibular joint disease are also related.

Clinical manifestations of temporomandibular joint disease

The course of the disease is prolonged, and it can be divided into acute and chronic. Joint pain can occur in the acute phase, which is associated with degenerative changes and synovitis. Pain worsens when opening, closing, and chewing. Many patients have joint murmurs only, and bony, fricative, and broken sounds can be heard in patients with hyperplasia, osteophytes, and patients with perforated or ruptured joint disks.

Temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome

Pain mainly occurs during mouth opening and chewing; friction sounds of joint bounce or bone destruction when mouth is opened and closed; joint movement disorders, including excessive opening, deflection or difficulty in opening mouth.

2. Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint

Difficulty in mouth opening, dysplasia, deflection and deformity of the face and mandible. Can be divided into intra-articular rigidity and extra-articular rigidity.

(1) Intraarticular ankylosis The lesions in one or both of the temporomandibular joints cause fibrous or bony adhesions in the joints, making it difficult or impossible to open the mouth. There are also deformities caused by developmental disorders in the lower face. The adult mandible has been developed, so there is no facial deformity.

(2) Extra-articular ankylosis Scar tissue is formed in the skin and mucous membranes or deep tissues between the upper and lower jaws, which makes it difficult to open the mouth. The clinical manifestations of extra-articular ankylosis are difficulty or inability to open mouth, but no mandibular developmental disorders and malocclusion.

3. Temporomandibular joint dislocation

Anterior dislocation of the jaw joint is common.

Diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disease

Most of the patients are over 40 years of age, have a long course of disease, and have repeated episodes of pain in the joint area. Joint noises can be heard during mandibular movement, mouth opening is restricted, and mouth opening is skewed. Tenderness on the lateral and posterior areas of the joints may cause facial asymmetry. X-ray of the joint shows joint space stenosis, condyles, joint fossa and joint nodules with degenerative changes, such as osteophyte formation, bevel hyperplasia before the bevel of the condyle, osteosclerosis, cystic degeneration, and condylar and articular socket wear equality. Arthrography or magnetic resonance imaging shows changes in the anterior disc displacement, perforation and rupture of the disc.

Temporomandibular joint disease treatment

Focus on conservative treatment. Medication includes diazepam, sodium acetylsalicylate, painkillers, and muscle relaxants. Hot compresses, massages, and mouth training can reduce muscle and joint pain. The treatment of occlusal pads should pay attention to grasping the time. Generally, it can be worn at night after 2 weeks. Surgical treatment is available when conservative treatment fails.