The Smile Daily

What is TMJ? It is an acronym that stands for Temporomandibular Joint. It is the joint that connects your jawbone to the temporal bones on your skull, which are located in front of each ear. Many people suffer from Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD (which people often confuse with TMJ), which causes pain in the hinged joint itself, as well as in the muscles surrounding it that control jaw movement. TMJ disorders can affect just about anyone, but tend to be more common in women than in men, and most often affect people between the ages of 20 and 40. Sufferers experience an array of pain, ranging from slight and temporary to severe and long-lasting. The only way to diagnose your symptoms properly and devise a solution is to see your dentist. Schedule an appointment with our office today if you feel you experience some of these symptoms regularly:

• Difficulty opening your mouth wide
• Popping, clicking or grinding sounds in your jaw when you chew, open, or close your mouth
• Pain and tenderness in your jaw joint, but also in your face, neck, shoulders, and in and around your ears, primarily when you open your mouth to chew or speak.
• Facial swelling
• Trouble lining up your teeth in your bite

There are many causes of TMD and without an evaluation from a dentist you might not ever know what is causing your TMJ pain. Causes contributing to this disorder include the following:

• Injury to your jaw, the joint itself, or the muscles of your head and neck
• Grinding or clenching your teeth, an action that places a lot of unnecessary strain on the sliding hinged joint
• Arthritis in the joint
• A dislocation or movement of the soft tissue between the ball and socked of the joint itself
• Stress, an outside factor that can cause you to tighten your facial and jaw muscles or clench your teeth

Treatment of TMJ dysfunction requires professional care. A comprehensive look at your dental history, in conjunction with a detailed medical exam, can determine the cause of your pain and what you can do to stop it. Your dentist will conduct a physical assessment of your bite, jaw, and facial  muscle function, but might need to go further and will request an MRI or CT scan to determine if your joint discs are out of alignment. It is important that you address your symptoms and visit your dentist if you feel you might be suffering from TMJ dysfunction. Contact us at Norge Dental center, your Williamsburg dentist, and we will be happy to schedule a consultation for you! You can reach us at 757-941-5290.