Signs and symptoms of TMD in children and teens are researched since the start of the 1970s. The most frequent clinical signs of TMD are:

O TMJ noises (on palpation by dentist);

o Limitation of mandibular movements;

O TMJ and muscle tenderness;

o Headache;

O TMJ clickings (when open or close the mouth);

o Bruxism;

O Limited opening of the mouth

O Jaw painand

O Facial pain.

Clinical symptoms and signs of TMD previously exist in teenagers. Muscle tenderness and joint sounds were the most prevalent, respectively. There are both systemic and local factors related to TMD development. The prediction from various TMD signs that may turn into a serious disorder later in life remains unclear.

The etiology of TMD has been considered to be among the most controversial issues in medical care. Presently, TMD is regarded not a single entity, but a bunch of different diseases of varying etiology and pathology. The debate still exists in this era due to the limited understanding about its etiology and natural development.

The use of sex in TMD is also broadly discussed in academic literature. TMD is rated to be 1.5-2 times more prevalent in women compared to men. Moreover, the predominance of women seeking treatment for TMD pain is even higher, with a ratio of 4:1. In my practice about 80% of the patients treated with this disorder are women. In addition, the most striking gender differences have been struck in women aged 20-40 decades. It is not common for children, teens and the elderly to have TMD.

TMJ disorder is a intricate chronic debilitating illness. Dentists have developed many remedies for this condition through the years. Determined by the simple cause or causes, possibly one or the combination of the following treatment approaches are used. They include:

O Pain medications to alleviate acute pain. These, also known as the NonSteroidal Anti-inflamatory Drugs or NSAID's, are the"first" drugs of choice. Examples of these medications are Aspirin, Motrin and Advil.

O Skeletal relaxer drugs (for example flexeril) to downgrade muscular strain.

O Steroid injection (hydorcortisone) to reduce inflammation.

O Soft diet to decrease the workload for the joint.

O Apply external warmth to the joint to relax the muscles around the joint.

O Occlusal splint or Orthotic appliance to reposition the joint to its perfect arrangement.

O Orthodontic treatment to fix teeth malalignment.

O Physical therapy (posture training) to straighten the neck.

O Arthroscopic surgery to remove scars inside the joint.

O TMJ surgery to fix damages of the joints.

O Total joint replacement operation to replace the true joint with an artificial one.

The key words to keep in mind about TMD treatment for kids are"conservative" and"reversible." Conservative therapies are as straightforward as you can and are used most often because most young patients do not have severe, degenerative TMD. Conservative treatments do not invade the tissues of the face, jaw or joint. Reversible remedies don't induce permanent, or irreversible, changes in the structure or position of the jaw or teeth.

Symptoms and signs of TMD clearly make an early appearance in children between the ages 12 and 18. Routine dental examination must include analysis of these signs and symptoms to spot them. These youngsters should be watched more closely. Since most TMD problems in teenagers are temporary and do not get worse, simple treatment is all that is usually needed to relieve distress.