Do you have undiagnosed jaw pain?
Imagine you’re sitting next to a new client during your introductory meeting over lunch; you begin eating and your jaw “pops” loud enough for your client to hear and continues to “crack” and “pop” with each bite. Embarrassing to say the least! Worse than embarrassing sounds, the misery of an aching jaw or recurring headaches can make life miserable.
It could be a result of a malfunctioning TMJ
Popping or clicking sounds when eating or yawning,?jaw pain,?neck pain,headaches; these are all symptoms of a “TMJ” disorder. Located directly in front of each ear, the Temporomandibular Joint, (TMJ) is a hinge joint that connects your lower jaw to the base of the skull.
Using a network of tendons and muscle, this joint allows you to chew and makes it possible to open and close your mouth. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, you may have a TMJ disorder. TMJ disorders are a result of a misaligned jaw. Your jaw can become misaligned from damaged, worn or missing teeth, arthritis, injury, allergies as a child, stress, or genetics.
Whatever the cause, the result of a misaligned jaw is usually pain. The pain comes from stressed muscles and nerves. When your bite is misaligned, your jaw muscles must work extra hard as they try to keep your jaw in a balanced position. When they tires out, they recruit your face, neck and shoulder muscles to help out.
These strained muscles can put pressure on the nerves that run through them, causing the painful symptoms you may be suffering.
Dentistry could be the solution you’re looking for
The good news is TMJ disorders are treatable. With neuromuscular dentistry, you can relieve your painful TMJ symptoms and once again enjoy your lunch minus the pop and crack of your jaw, sleep without damaging teeth grinding, and enjoy life free from painful headaches and aching muscles.
Using a mix of modern technology and classic dentistry, I can help you resolve your TMJ jaw pain. X-rays, MRI’s (Magnetic resonance imaging), CT scans (Computed Tomography), casts of your teeth and a thorough physical check of your facial and jaw muscles are some of the tools I use to?diagnose your TMJ disorder.
Your treatment may be as simple as a dental appliance, or you may need to repair or replace damaged or missing teeth. Orthodontic treatments help to realign your bite and pain management will help give immediate relief.
Find out more
Do you think you or someone you know may be suffering from an undiagnosed TMJ disorder? A quick and simple way to start your investigation is to take our free on-line TMJ questionnaire.
It will give you insight into what’s causing your pain and some avenues to take to start the process of treating and overcoming your pain.