Do you frequently experience pain in your jaw while eating, suffer with headaches and ear pain or hear a clicking sound when you speak or move your mouth? Then you may be one of over 10 million Americans who suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disease (TMJ). Don’t let this annoying problem stop you from enjoying life! Find out more information about TMJ here, compliments of Columbus dentist, Dr. Scott Schumann at Grove City Dental, who can help you find ways of eliminating the symptoms of TMJ.
What is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ as its abbreviated, is a condition of the temporomandibular joint, or jaw joint which connects the lower jawbone to the skull. In patients with TMJ, this joint stops working correctly and becomes distorted or inflamed. This causes pain and irregular movement of the jaw, which can lead to other problems such as frequent jaw locking, pain, ear infections and irregular tooth wear. If not treated. TMJ can get worse leading to tooth loss and other complications of the jaw and skull.
Causes and Symptoms of TMJ
While there is no one cause for TMJ, most physicians agree that symptoms develop over a period of time for one or more the following reasons:
- Misaligned bite – If the teeth of the upper and lower jaw do not meet correctly, the jaw bones do not open and close properly, leading to TMJ symptoms such as pain and strain of the ligatures of the face and inner ear pain.
- Cartilage wear and tear – When the cartilage that pads the jawbones becomes worn or displaced due to a misaligned jaw, this can cause painful grinding of the jaw bone. This can lead to painful eating and jaw locking.
- Jaw clenching and grinding – Habitual clenching and grinding of the teeth, particularly during sleep or times of stress, can place pressure and strain on the joints and is one of the most common causes of TMJ disorders. You may be suffering from ear and head pain on a regular basis as a result.
- Dislocation of the jaw– This painful condition is characterized by popping and cracking noises when the jaw is opened or closed. This can be caused by injury or in children, as a result of a difficult birth process.
- Inflammatory Disease – If you have Arthritis, Lupus, Fibromyalgia or another form of inflammatory joint disease, you will be more prone to TMJ. This can make it hard to open and close your mouth without severe pain.
Diagnoses and Treatment of TMJ
If you have been experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s wise not to try and correct TMJ on your own. Take the time to make an appointment with a qualified oral health care specialist and get evaluated for TMJ as soon as possible. You will be surprised to find there are several treatment options for TMJ to make your life bearable again. Your Columbus orthodontist or dentist can fit you with a special mouth guard which you can wear when you sleep at night to reduce TMJ symptoms. In addition, you can undergo special TMJ therapy to help you learn to bite down without pain with a series of exercises designed to improve your bite. Or you may want to consider some form of oral surgery in Columbus to improve the alignment of your teeth.
How Grove City Dental Helps TMJ Sufferers
Don’t suffer with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Get the help and support you need to stop the symptoms of TMJ and start living a pain-free life again by making an appointment with Dr. Schumann at Grove City Dental.
