Bite Disorder

Bite dysfunction consists of symptoms affecting the jaw joints. One of the main symptoms is pain in the jaw area and a change in joint function. It can also have a significant impact on quality of life. What exactly is a malfunction of the bite system? How can it be treated? Continue reading to learn more about this topic.

What is a jaw joint?

It is a joint that connects the jaw to the skull in the temporal area. It is located on either side of the head right in front of the ears. It helps the mouth to open and close. This in turn is made possible by the so-called masticatory muscles.

You use these muscles when you talk, eat, yawn, or laugh. So you use them constantly. For this reason, it is not at all strange that adults have a lot of dysfunction of these joints. They can also occur in children, especially from the age of 10 onwards.

What is a bite dysfunction?

As we mentioned earlier, this is a group of different diseases and is usually classified according to the cause of the problem as either muscle or joint related. In reality, it often affects both the joint and the masseter muscles.

Bite system dysfunction can be unilateral or occurring on both sides. It is more common in women than men. It usually affects people between the ages of 20 and 44, but it can still occur at any age.

The main symptoms are:

• Acute or chronic pain  associated with jaw movement – usually in the ear area.

• Snap of the joint when opening or closing the mouth.
• Limited movement of the mouth  that can even lock the chin.
• Headache and neck pain.
• Ear pain.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Hearing loss.

Possible causes of bite dysfunction

The possible causes of this disease vary. In many cases, there can actually be several reasons. Below we have listed some of the most common reasons:

• Bite of teeth
• A way to squeeze your chin together
• A way to chew a pen
• Grinding chewing gum
• Teething
• Stress and anxiety
• Increased sensitivity to pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Arthritis
• Dislocation of the joint
• Tumor
• Degenerative joint disease
• Joint injury
• Displacement of the articulation plate

To make a diagnosis, it is usually sufficient for an expert to check the patient’s medical history and perform a physical examination of the area, including the neck.

Sometimes a doctor will need to use imaging techniques such as x-rays, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. If your doctor deems it necessary, he or she will also do blood tests to differentiate between diagnoses.

How is bite dysfunction treated?

This malfunction often combines a number of different causes, and a solution approach may require interdisciplinary assistance. Sometimes this is just a temporary situation that can even improve without any special treatment.

In other cases, however, treatments are needed that can relieve pain and improve joint dysfunction. However, there are ways in which the patient can alleviate or control this dysfunction. These are called conservative methods. These include:

• Avoid chewing on inedible things (pens, nails, and so on).
• Keep your chin slightly open and relaxed to avoid constantly squeezing it together.
• Be very careful or even avoid certain instruments that can tighten the mouth, chin or neck area.
• Use muscle relaxing methods.
• Apply a heat or cold bandage to the painful area.
• Improve sleep hygiene.
• Do muscle massages.
• Eat soft food.
• Avoid extensive jaw movements.

These methods are extremely useful and should always be performed under expert supervision. Your doctor will also prescribe painkillers and physical therapy.

In severe cases, however, conservative methods are not sufficient and surgery may be necessary.

The prognosis varies depending on the cause

Fortunately, in most cases,  patients respond to very conservative methods. So the forecast is good. However, it is important to note that if the bite dysfunction is due to a tumor, degenerative joint disease, and so on, the prognosis and development of the problem may vary.

With this in mind, symptoms may improve or worsen depending on the development of the disease that causes them. This is why it is important to make a good medical diagnosis and start the right treatment whenever the case arises.