Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
The three symptoms of TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder that come to mind for most individuals are jaw discomfort, clicking, and popping. But, you might be surprised to learn that none of these conditions are necessary for TMJ dysfunction to exist. Our TMJ dentists in Greeneville at Tusculum Dental Care share on the blog today what it feels like when you have TMJ and how to find treatment to eliminate the problem.
Common Symptoms
Because each component of your body functions as a unit, when one is out of balance, it can lead to a variety of unanticipated symptoms across the body. Your temporomandibular joints are a good example of how this is undoubtedly true. TMJ dysfunction may produce discomfort from the top of your head to the tips of your fingers, even though these tiny joints are situated close to the temples, where your lower jaw connects to the rest of your skull. Our Jonesborough TMJ dentists share below common pain types associated with TMJ disorder.
Jaw Pain
Your jaw pain may be intense and quick when you open your mouth widely to yawn, or it may be a dull ache that lasts for a long time. If you notice that pain gets worse in the morning, you could be clenching your jaw as you sleep or grinding your teeth, a condition that is known as bruxism. The temporomandibular joints frequently experience discomfort on each side of the jaw. However, this is not always the case.
Headaches
The headaches linked to TMJ dysfunction can range from common aches and pains to crippling migraines and tension headaches brought on by tense muscles in the face, jaw, neck, and shoulders. Although it may seem as though your temporomandibular joints are where your headaches are coming from, the TMJ is not always to blame for headaches that are felt around the temples.
Tooth Pain and Damage
Many patients’ TMJ disorders are brought on by their habit of clenching and grinding their teeth at night, which can also result in dental discomfort. The tension that these practices place on your teeth can lead to chips and fractures because grinding your teeth wears down the enamel, subjects your weakened teeth to damage, and causes excruciating discomfort. In rare situations, a patient may have a fracture in a tooth that cannot be seen without specialist tools and might result in excruciating pain and infection.
Facial Pain
Face discomfort is a typical symptom of TMJ dysfunction, especially in the area around the temples, behind the eyes, behind the ears, or where your jaw and neck connect. To the touch, these places may feel sensitive. Due to the temporomandibular joints’ proximity to the ear canals, which can result in sensations in the ears when they are inflamed and painful, earaches and a sense of fullness are frequent with TMJ problems.
Neck, Shoulder, and Back Pain
Jaw tightness frequently leads to stress in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. These symptoms are particularly typical of TMJ dysfunction and, in some people, may even be more evident than the jaw discomfort itself, often leading to a misdiagnosis. Patients can finally find relief from their persistent pain by treating the dysfunction in their temporomandibular joints.
What treatment is available for TMJ sufferers?
Neuromuscular dentistry, a specialist area that necessitates further education and training to study jaw alignment and the problem of TMJ, is the only medical profession best prepared to diagnose and treat TMJ. Our Greeneville TMJ specialists use mandibular advancement devices, which are dental appliances that move the lower jaw forward into the appropriate resting position and are one way that Tusculum Dental Care can treat TMJ. The appliance gradually restores appropriate jaw and bite alignment, reducing TMJ and its accompanying symptoms.
TMJ Treatment in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee
You may be living with TMJ disorder and not realize it until the pain becomes severe. However, if you identify with any of the above pains, our Erwin TMJ dentists encourage you to schedule a consultation for proper treatment before the situation gets out of hand. Untreated TMJ patients find out quickly that the painful symptoms will not go away without medical intervention. So, treat the problem now before things become worse. Call Tusculum Dental Care at (423) 639-7575 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.