TMJ Treatment

What is TMJ?

TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) is a term describing any disorder causing inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the skill to the mandible. There are several different conditions that can cause pain in the jaw joint and muscles used in opening and closing the jaw. Disorders affecting the temporomandibular joint can have consequences on an individual’s ability to eat, speak, swallow, chew, and breathe.

Possible causes of TMJ Disorder

• Injury to the jaw, including whiplash or stretching due to insertion of a breathing tube
• Teeth clenching and grinding
• Arthritis
• Infection
• Dental procedures
• Auto-immune diseases
• Hormones
• Genetics

An individual suffering from TMJ may experience

• Clicking or popping noise in the jaw
• Being unable to open the mouth comfortably
• Locking of the jaw when trying to open the mouth
• Neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain or headaches
• An irregular bite
• Swelling of the face around the jaw joint
• Ringing in the ears or decreased hearing
• Dizziness and vision problems

TMJ disorders are a relatively unexamined area of medicine causing diagnosis and treatment of these conditions to be difficult, but what is known about TMJD has been used to effectively treat or manage the symptoms of the condition.

Occasional discomfort or pain of the jaw joint or facial muscles is not uncommon and can occur for any number of reasons. Often TMJ pain goes away within days or weeks, but if the problem persists for a month or more a doctor should be consulted.

Please call us for more information or to schedule an appointment regarding TMJ Treatments. (770) 445-1314