TMJ tinnitus is often seen in many patients with a TMJ disorder. If you hit someone's arm, all the muscles in the area where you hit tighten, not just the muscle you hit. The jaw joint is in front of the ear and when there's tightening of the muscles in and around the jaw joint, the small muscles inside the middle ear can also tighten. This can cause hearing problems since it freezes all of the bones inside the inner ear needed for correct hearing.
TMJ tinnitus and/or decreased hearing can be caused by compression of the tissues behind the jaw joint. Patients with TMJ problem often have a jaw joint that is badly aligned and that pushes backwards into the ear. The back of a human jaw joint has a lot of very sensitive tissue that hurts when compressed. A patient's body often tries to correct this by pulling the jaw forward and this takes muscle power. Unfortunately, muscles were not designed to hold bones in one place for much time. As a result, an overworked muscle first goes into spasm, begins to hurt, gets inflamed and next begins to shorten and get hard. Every other muscle in the area is usually effected along with the muscles inside the inner ear.
It is not uncommon for TMJ patients to enjoy relief from TMJ tinnitus after one to six weeks of therapy. This is because the cause is the compression of the back of the joint. A dental appliance prevents a patient from biting all the way and so protects the tissues in the back of the joint. The muscles can then relax and including the muscles inside the middle ear that are related these ear problems. This can greatly reduce the symptoms of TMJ syndrome.
Dr. Padolsky and the dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. He enjoys treating patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and has been doing so since 1982. TMJ tinnitus is can often be successfully treated, sometimes within a few weeks of therapy. If would like to consult with our senior TMJ dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, call 404-874-7428 to make an appointment. It the first step in taking good care of yourself.