TMJ Disorder
Temporo Mandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder or Temporo Mandibular Disorder (TMD), can cause a range of symptoms including jaw clicking and minor discomfort to a sharp pain in your temple, ear, jaw, and teeth.
TMJ can “lock” your jaw open or shut, or dislocate the jaw altogether. The TMJ is the joint that connects the lower jaw (the mandible) to your skull, near the ear. When this joint becomes irritated it can be extremely painful to chew and talk. This becomes a TMD or disorder of the joint.
A few symptoms associated with TMD are pain in the jaw, headaches, aching in the face, toothaches, ear pain, tinnitus, and neck, back, and chest pain.
TMJ Treatment
Grinding, clenching and a bad bite causes the muscles that control your jaw to be overworked and fatigued. When this happens they go into spasm. An appliance is custom made to wear over the teeth that will allow your muscles to rest, which will reduce the symptoms.
Various medications can also help reduce the pain, as well as massaging the muscles, moist heat, and physical therapy.
If left untreated for too long, TMJ will get worse and, in some instances, can cause permanent damage. If you experience any of the above symptoms, the best option is to immediately call our office for an evaluation to begin the road to recovery.
