Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) links from the jawbone to your skull. It’s like a sliding hinge, with a joint on each side of your jaw, near your ears. When someone suffers from a TMJ disorder, they deal with muscle pain in the jaw. This illness can also affect your jaw movement.
Do you suffer from constant headaches? This is just one symptom of the condition. However, there are many more signs of TMJ. Read on to learn more about the disorder, how to seek diagnosis and treatment options.
TMJ Symptoms
Some common signs of TMJ include:
- Headaches and migraines.
- Neck and head tension.
- Soreness or stiffness in the back, shoulders, and neck.
- Jaw cracks and pops when you open it.
- Pain behind the eyes.
- Tingling/numbness in the fingertips or arms.
- Teeth are sensitive to the cold.
- Loose teeth.
- Ringing in the ears, ear pain, or vertigo.
- Ear congestion.
- Grinding or clenching.
- Can’t open your mouth.
- Insomnia.
While it’s not on the list, another thing TMJ patients experience is depression. The condition can feel debilitating at times and can wear on you. Especially when it comes to the constant recurring symptoms of the disorder.
Why Is This Happening To Me?
When there is disharmony between the jaw joint and how your teeth come together, TMJ disorder arises. Therefore, where there are imbalances in your bite or you have unstable jaw joints, your body overcompensates for these issues. You might clench or grind your teeth. You may experience muscle discomfort. Sometimes, the pain will radiate through your head and ears. Finally, soreness or stiffness can occur in your shoulders and neck.
TMJ develops for a number of reasons. First, injury or trauma can bring it on. Examples of this are whiplash during a car crash, a blow to the face, or an accidental fall. Sometimes, tooth loss or unbalanced dental work is the culprit. A common reason is stress, which causes some patients to grind or clench their teeth while they sleep.
Turning To Your Burkburnett Dentist For A Diagnosis
Diagnosing TMJ is a challenge. If you see any of the above signs or symptoms, maybe it’s time to schedule a consultation with your dentist. Not only can they help with diagnosis, but treatment options, too. First, your dentist in Burkburnett will ask you several questions about your jaw and teeth. Next, they’ll take a closer look at your jaw and the muscle movement in this area.
They do this by measuring head and neck muscles while the muscles are in a relaxed position. Your dentist will then reposition your jaw to hit those exact measurements.
TMJ Treatment Options
Treatments for TMJ vary from patient to patient. The goal for correcting your bite and jaw position may require a neuromuscular orthodontic. This assists your bite in holding the right position. Also, it trains your mouth to remain in a comfortable place.
Neuromuscular orthodontics is much like traditional braces. However, the focus of this treatment is to help align joints, muscles, and teeth to eliminate discomfort and pain. Getting a “straighter” smile in the process is like icing on the cake. Regardless, neuromuscular orthodontics improve jaw function and movement (as well as smile aesthetics).
Another alternative is a full-mouth restoration procedure. This occurs when porcelain veneers, crowns, dental implants, and other measures are put in place to help adjust your bite. In fact, the interesting thing about this treatment is that it does more than relieve your TMJ symptoms. It also protects your teeth, restores tooth function, and enhances the look of your smile.
If grinding and clenching are the root cause of your TMJ, then an oral appliance might do the trick. This is a custom mouthguard you can use while sleeping at night.
Think You May Have TMJ? Then It’s Time To Book An Appointment With A Dentist in Burkburnett, TX, Today!
If you see any of the above TMJ symptoms in your own life, it’s time to reach out for help. This is where Dr. Clark and Burkburnett Family Dental can help. Our team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. We can help you get the relief you need and deserve.
First, we focus on finding the underlying cause of your TMJ discomfort. We also use state-of-the-art technologies to diagnose TMJ and offer viable treatment options to address this condition. If you think you may have TMJ, call our Burkburnett office at (940) 569-4901 to schedule an appointment, today. Why continue living in discomfort and pain when you don’t have to?
