Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
Jaw pain can make it challenging to get through your busy day. Whether you have inconvenient, occasional pain or constant, debilitating pain, it could have many causes. From teeth grinding while sleeping to trauma from an accident, diagnosing your jaw pain based on your oral health history, lifestyle, and symptoms can help generate the best treatment plan for your condition. Fortunately, the Greeneville dentists who treat TMJ disorder at Tusculum Dental Care share on the blog today how you can tell when it is time to get serious about your jaw pain.
Does jaw pain mean I have TMJ disorder?
In short, no. However, each patient’s conditions vary, and not every patient receives the treatment required for a disorder. For example, although approximately one-third of the population encounters jaw pain symptoms, 3.6 to 7.0% suffer from severe pain and require treatment for relief. Therefore, our jaw pain dentists in Greeneville recommend scheduling a consultation for a complete jaw pain examination and diagnosis so that treatment can begin and give you a pain-free life.
What are the signs or symptoms of a jaw joint disorder?
Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ, TMD, or TMJD, is a jaw joint dysfunction that creates muscle inflammation resulting in stiffness, severe pain, and possible long-term damage if ignored. TMJ is most common in younger adults but can appear in patients of any age. Our Jonesboro TMJ dentists share below are a few signs and symptoms that may indicate you have TMJ.
- Chronic Headaches
- Sore or Stiff Jaw Muscles
- Worn, Broken, or Chipped Teeth
- Grinding Your Teeth While Sleeping
- Limited Ability to Open Your Mouth
- Neck, Shoulder, or Upper Back Pain
- Jaw Joint Pain, Whether Occasional or Constant, Minor or Severe
- Clicking, Popping, or Grating Sounds When Opening and Closing the Mouth
What’s causing my jaw pain?
Since jaw pain causes can be challenging to assess and adequately diagnose, the process requires an experienced TMJ dentist in Erwin. Our dentists use state-of-the-art technology to determine your jaw pain cause, whether the problem lies within the joints, muscles, or both. Patients who suffer from jaw pain have trauma, misaligned teeth, improper craniofacial development, degenerative disorders, or sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. However, you can reclaim your days without pain with the appropriate treatment to address the pain.
What is the treatment process for jaw pain?
Depending on your specific cause, a customized treatment plan can restore normal bite function. For example, some patients may need to wear an oral appliance to correct their bite imbalance, and others may need bite rehabilitation to restore proper biting function. In some cases, our Greeneville dentists who treat jaw pain can alter the afflicting tooth’s length, shape, or height for a stable bite that improves jaw joint or muscle function. To find out which treatment is best for your jaw pain, feel free to schedule a consultation.
What could happen if I leave my jaw pain untreated?
Your jaw pain cause should receive a proper diagnosis from dentists who treat TMJ in Greeneville. If you choose not to follow the treatment program, you can cause irreparable damage to your jaw joints, bones, cartilage, and muscles. In addition, the damages can create issues with speaking or eating and potentially lead to embarrassing social situations. Therefore, no matter how minimal or severe your jaw pain is, we recommend scheduling a consultation to determine the cause and receive treatment to rid your days of debilitating jaw pain.
TMJ Solutions in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee
Determining and treating your jaw pain causes can help alleviate the painful sensations and restore lost functionality. Additionally, it can keep more complex oral health conditions from developing. If you have TMJ questions or would like to schedule a consultation at our Greeneville dental office, feel free to call Tusculum Dental Care at (423) 639-7575 or contact us online today.