Do you ever experience a clicking or popping sound when you yawn or eat, often accompanied with painful sensations? This is a telltale sign of temporomandibular disorder or temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD/TMJ. If you think you suffer from this debilitating disorder, Peak Dentistry offers TMD/TMJ treatments that can help. Read on to learn more about them!
What Is TMD/TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint acts like a hinge connecting your jaw to the surrounding bones in your skull. Temporomandibular disorder happens when the joint becomes misaligned or isn’t functioning properly. Some of the most common symptoms of this disorder are waking up with a sore jaw, experiencing jaw pain when chewing or talking, changes in the way your teeth fit together, earaches, and a clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw.
Causes of TMD/TMJ
It isn’t always possible to pin down the reason individuals suffer from temporomandibular disorder. There are many different things that might cause the joint to malfunction including physical trauma, arthritis, grinding or clenching your teeth due to stress, autoimmune disorders, braces, structural issues from birth, and excessive gum chewing. Stress, poor posture, and lack of sleep are also potential causes of TMD/TMJ.
Diagnosing TMD/TMJ
If you think you might have TMD/TMJ, the Ramellini doctors at Peak Dentistry will carefully examine your jaw. A TMD/TMJ examination includes listening to the sound your jaw makes, observing the range of motion of your jaw, and pressing around the area to locate sensitive areas.
TMD/TMJ Treatment
As for treatment, there are a variety of jaw stretches and massages you can do at home to help improve your jaw strength and mitigate the pain. Changes in diet, especially avoiding sticky or hard foods, can also help your jaw mobility. Other treatments include botox injections, acupuncture and wearing a mouthguard. For severe cases, surgery and/or medication might be recommended.
Affordable TMD/TMJ Treatment in Clyde, NC
If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort in your jaw that’s preventing you from chewing or talking with ease, book a TMD/TMJ consultation at our dental office! Peak Dentistry offers affordable, holistic dentistry to benefit not only your oral health, but your overall health as well. We look forward to seeing you!
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