TMJ-D
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint. It is commonly known as the jaw joint. It’s the most complex joint in the human body. If it isn’t functioning properly, it can cause significant pain and discomfort. This is due to its proximity to a number of large facial nerves.
Should I Visit 904 Dental Care for Migraines?
TMJ pain can manifest as severe headaches, which gets misdiagnosed as migraines. It can also cause face, neck and shoulder pain, and sometimes even affect the ears. If you are suffering any of these additional pains or are not responding to migraine treatments, it is worth getting a second opinion from your dentist..
Are You Seeking Relief For Your Headaches and/or Facial Pain?
Your "incurable" headache pain could be related to an incorrect bite, jaw joints, and/or spasms from the muscles surrounding the head and neck. Our office believes that it is necessary to treat the disorder’s cause to eliminate the symptoms rather than only giving temporary relief to the symptoms with drugs such as muscle relaxants and pain medications. Our focus is to address the jaw joint factors related to the pain by restoring proper function and improving overall health.
Can Dentistry Help?
An imprecise bite can, over time, result in tension in the muscles of the face, jaw, neck and beyond. Trauma or accidental injury can result in an increase in muscle activity of the face and jaw muscles. (The delayed onset of muscle spasms following whiplash injury is a prime example.) Prolonged spasm of facial muscles can lead to chronic muscle pain, often perceived in other areas (referred pain), and thus subject to misdiagnosis.
What Causes TMJ-D and Headaches?
TMJ dysfunction can happen for many reasons. Some people experience jaw damage in an accident. Others suffer from bruxism. A condition that causes them to grind their teeth and place stress on their jaw. Jaw damage can also occur due to misaligned teeth or a misaligned bite due to old dental work. Many people experience pain because of a combination of factors. For example, a poor bite can cause unconscious tooth grinding, which leads to TMJ pain.
Our 904 Dental Care Dentists are trained in neuromuscular dentistry.. They understand the relationship between the jaw joints, muscles, and teeth. This allows them to diagnose and solve TMJ pain.
Do you suffer from headaches and/or jaw pain? Contact 904 Dental Care.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:
- Pain or tenderness of your jaw
- Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
- Aching pain in and around your ear
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
- Aching face pain
- Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
- Clicking or noises in your jaw joints
TMJ disorders can also cause a clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew. But if there's no pain or limitation of movement associated with your jaw clicking, you probably don't need treatment for a TMJ disorder.