November is TMJ Awareness Month and we here at Dental Made Easy want to highlight the importance of understanding this area of the mouth. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) allows for movement of the jaw, acting as a hinge. On each side of the head the jawbone is connected to the skull, in the form of a ball and socket joint. This helps in supporting chewing, speaking, yawning and swallowing. There are issues that can occur in this area that are called temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Pain can be felt when moving the jaw and muscles around when experiencing one of these disorders.
Causes of TMD
There has not been any solid medical findings of what causes TMD. It is believed by dentists that symptoms occur from issues within the jaw itself. Whiplash or any other extreme injury to the head, neck, joint, or jaw area are also believed to lead to TMD.
Recognized causes:
– Bruxism (clenching/grinding of the teeth)
– The ball and socket of the joint having movement
– Tightness of the jaw and facial muscles due to stress
– Arthritis located in the joint
Symptoms of TMD
Severe pain is associated with TMD, along with soreness, ache, and discomfort. This pain can last for an extended period of time or be temporary. One or both sides of your face can be affected by this as well. The ages that are mostly affected by this are between 20 and 40 years old. Women are more commonly affected by this more than men.
Some common symptoms of TMD are:
– TMJ associated pain (in the jaw area)
– Headaches, earaches, toothaches, or neck aches
– Struggling to chew/discomfort when eating
– A locking or stuckness of the mouth whether it is opened or closed
– Any sounds (popping, clicking, or grating) when opening your mouth
Treatments for TMD
Surgery: If necessary, surgery may be suggested to a patient that is facing extreme pain. The surgeries that may be considered are open-joint surgery, arthrocentesis, and arthroscopy.
Dental work: Sometimes there needs to be work done by a dental professional that can aid in relieving any pain that is felt due to TMD. This can be the use of dental implants, bridges, Invisalign or braces to adjust the bite.
TMD is necessary to be aware of just in case you may be facing jaw problems and are curious about why it is occurring. Visit us at Dental Made Easy if you have any questions or concerns!
Your Dental Health
When it comes to your health, trust in the dentists at Dental Made Easy. Dental Made Easy has the best dental practices in New York City and we are open on Sundays as well as late evenings. All of our dental offices are open and accepting new patients at this time. We are rated among the top dental practices in New York, NY with numerous 5-star reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. For a teeth cleaning or exam, we recommend calling or booking an appointment online with one of our talented dental professionals. All new patients may also take advantage of our $149 Cleaning Special that includes an exam and x-rays of our Free Dental Implant Consultation Special.
To set up your appointment give us a call at (844) 979-EASY (3279). We have offices in Forest Hills, Queens, Little Caribbean, Brooklyn and Garden City, Long Island. Walk-ins welcomed, we take emergencies and we are open on late nights to accommodate patients with a busy schedule. We hope to see you soon!
