Have you ever felt like something is wrong with your jaw? Do you suffer from frequent jaw or ear pain? Does your jaw ever click or pop? Constant headaches? Do you feel stiffness in your jaw muscles or has your joint ever locked? If you have noticed any of these signs, you may have a TMJ disorder.
This problem is more common among women than men and people between 20 and 40 years of age. In fact, over 10 million people in the United States have TMJ disorders. It’s more prominent than you would likely imagine. Some of your friends or family members may be suffering from it as you read this!
What’s a TMJ disorder?
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder is a term used to encompass several problems with a specific joint, which connects the jawbone to the skull. This joint works in combination with various jaw muscles, so it enables you to open and close your mouth, talk, chew, yawn and swallow.
There isn’t a direct cause in many cases; however, some of the following may play a role:
- A jaw or joint trauma.
- Chronic health conditions like arthritis.
- Joint erosion.
- A habit of grinding or clenching your teeth.
- Birth structural jaw problems.
- Orthodontic braces.
- Extended stress.
- Poor diet.
- Sleep deprivation.
Although this problem isn’t life-threatening, its symptoms can become chronic and decrease one’s life quality. It’s difficult to manage since the disorder involves several healthcare disciplines such as dentistry and neurology.
Common symptoms of TMJ disorders may last for more than 3 months, including chronic headaches or earaches, limited jaw mobility or noises from the joint during a mandibular movement like clicking or popping, grinding or clenching teeth, neck, and shoulder pain. Symptoms may show up on both sides of the face or just one. Having a misaligned bite and overcrowded teeth makes you more prone to developing a TMJ disorder.
What can I do?
There are multiple treatment options to help patients identify and treat the source of their pain and restore the health of your TMJ in South Tampa. Usually, the prognosis for TMD is generally good as people typically can manage the disorder with self-care and home remedies such as ice packs to the joint, over-the-counter painkillers, and massages of the jaw and neck. Reducing certain risk factors may contribute to the solution of this problem such as stress reduction; avoiding chewing gum and keeping arthritis stable.
However, chronic pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability and functional limitations often lead to medical treatment. Find a dental clinic in South Tampa that provides the best comfortable and comprehensive care to their patients and ensures that you receive treatment that meets your specific needs.
The most effective TMJ treatment near you should offer a full range of diagnostic services, imaging like X-rays, CT scan, and an MRI of the jaw. Furthermore, there should be options for surgical and non-surgical treatments such as dental splints, physical therapy, prescription medications, and Botox injections.
The first step is to use a custom mouthguard or acrylic dental splint for the early stages of the disease and identify a comfortable and stable bite position. Restorative dental treatments for patients with tooth damage may be necessary to repair teeth and restore a comfortable bite.
If crooked and misaligned teeth are the cause of your bite problem, there are restorative dental treatments like dental crowns, dental veneers or tooth bonding, eliminating stress on the joint. In rare cases, your doctor may recommend surgery or other procedures to treat your condition like cognitive behavioral therapy in order to reduce stress.
Seek medical attention if you think you suffer from TMJ disorder, have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw, or if you can’t open or close your jaw completely. A first step might be scheduling an appointment with a dentist in South Tampa, FL to discuss possible causes and treatments for your problem.