Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder impacts about 10 million Americans. This condition occurs when the joint that allows your jaw to open and close becomes tender, causes pain, or makes it difficult to move your jaw, eat, or talk.
Symptoms of TMJ
- Popping sound in your jaw when you open or close your mouth
- Locked up jaw
- Headaches
- Pain in and around your ears
- Pain in your eyes
- Pain in your face
- Headaches
- Tenderness in your jaw
Causes of TMJ
Research shows that TMJ can develop from a disc shifting out of alignment, arthritis in the cartilage, a blow to the joint, grinding your teeth, an off-set bite, or stress.
Treatment for TMJ
For immediate relief, apply a warm compress to your jaw or take anti-inflammatory medication. When you meet with our team, we first give you an orthotic device to wear on your bottom teeth for four to six months. We monitor your progress to make sure your symptoms start to subside. Once they do, we provide a bite splint for relief if symptoms reappear. If you still have ongoing symptoms, we have more extensive treatments such as replacing missing teeth, giving you braces, or restoring your teeth with crowns to give you a proper bite. If you have symptoms of TMJ, schedule an appointment with our team today.