Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (often referred to as TMJ or TMJD) is the name given to the pain or dysfunction of the muscles that move your jaw or the joint where your jaw hinges. This joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. Issues and pain be caused by many things, including stress, extraneous clenching or grinding of your teeth, or even trauma to your jaw.
Some of the symptoms of TMJD include pain or tenderness when you open or close your jaw, even repetitive headaches in areas such as your temple. To be sure it is TMJD causing these problems and not something else, it is best to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Common Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction include:
At Meyers Family Dental, we’ll carefully go over your symptoms, and examine the problem thoroughly so we can correctly diagnose the cause. After TMJD is diagnosed, we will go over all the options for treatment with you. These can vary from Occlusal Guards, which are mouth guards specifically designed for your TMJ diagnosis, to repairing damage your teeth have sustained.
We’ll work with you closely and look at the muscles in your jaw and face, your teeth and your bite, and wherever else you may be feeling pain. Many of the symptoms are common with other problems, so we’ll be sure to find the real source of the problem.
As always we will treat you with care and respect. Meyers Family Dental is dedicated to keeping you pain free and finding solutions to keep you smiling.
At Meyers Family Dental, we stay informed about modern treatments for TMJD that are proven with a track record of success. For more information on TMJ disorder, you can review the condition definition and treatment links on the Mayo Clinic website here: TMJD Disorders Definition.