TMJ

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge point that connects your jaw to the rest of your skull. TMJ pain is relatively common, and can lead to debilitating migraines and difficulty chewing and speaking. Fortunately, there are many options to address TMJ difficulties.

Mission Hills Dental

TMJ pain can have a number of causes, including:

• Teeth grinding: This puts pressure on your jaw point and wears it down over time.
• Facial injuries: Trauma to the jaw may knock it out of alignment.
• Arthritis: This deteriorates the cartilage that insulates the TMJ. Without the cartilage, bones start to grind together and wear each other down.
• Natural aging: Ordinary wear and tear on the jaw joint can lead to pain.

Dental Problems

Aside from the obvious sharp pain around the jaw joint, TMJ problems can manifest in several ways. You may feel a clicking sensation as you shift your jaw around, indicating that the joint is misaligned. Your jaw may lock and make it difficult to open and close your mouth. Finally, TMJ pain can be a contributing factor to migraines, where the pain can seem to “migrate” and spread across the face, head, neck, and shoulders.

Dental Treatments

There are many TMJ treatments available, and which one is appropriate for your situation depends on the cause of your discomfort and the condition of the joints.

• Mouth Guard: If teeth grinding is contributing to the problem, a mouth guard or other oral appliance may be the solution. Decreasing the friction consistently applied to your teeth tends to decrease TMJ pain as well.
• Pain Medication: This can provide short-term relief for TMJ pain. Muscle relaxants can also be used if muscle spasms are a cause or symptom of your TMJ problems.
• Surgery: Surgical options for addressing TMJ pain vary from more conservative to more drastic procedures, depending on what is needed. On the less invasive end of the scale, arthrocentesis involves inserting needles into the joint to drain fluid and remove debris. As a last resort, arthrotomy (open-joint surgery) can correct structural issues with the joint.

If you’re experiencing TMJ pain and discomfort, don’t wait to address it. Schedule an appointment with Mission Hills Dental and we’ll get you on the road to recovery.

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