Symptoms of TMJ can have you screaming….OMG!
What does TMJ stand for? It actually is the pneumonic for Temporomandibular Joint; the correct terminology is TMD – for Tempormandibular Disorder. It’s the name given to the joint and it’s assoicated structures like the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support and surround the actual joint.
TMD is a class of conditions that involve the muscles, nerves, and joints of the jaw. It goes way beyond jaw pain. If it goes untreated it can become very painful and damage your teeth, joint, and bones. Bruxism is the term for when you clench & grind your teeth, and is a symptom of TMD. We get calls daily from patients experiencing chronic jaw pain, tooth pain, headaches, ear pain and jaw locking. After the pain meds wore off and the symptoms haven’t changes, then they give us a call. Our amazing Dr. Hahn is always here to help.
Other symptoms of TMD:
-Pain and tenderness in your jaw
-pain or aching in teeth unrelated to cavities or trauma
-Aching pain in or around your ear
-Difficulty or discomfort while chewing
-Clicking or popping in the jaw when opening or closing your mouth
-Jaws locking when closing or opening your mouth
-Headaches
Make sure you call Rhoades Family Dentistry if you are having any of these symptoms. Dr. Hahn can help with your TMD needs.
Many TMD symptoms are caused from the effects of physical stress around the joints. The actual cause of TMJ is really unknown but some causes could be from:
-A bad bite
-Grinding or clenching your teeth
-Stress
-Poor posture and cerivcal (neck) disorders
-Choices in diet
-Lack of sleep, poor sleep habits
Believe it or not, the best thing you can do is RELAX! Stress will only make your TMD worse. Once you come to visit Rhoades Family Dentistry in Olathe, Dr. Hahn can assist in diagnosing the problem and creating a treatment plan to ease your pain. Bite guards that help splint your jaw, pharmaceuticals, physical therapy, nueromodular blocking injections are just a few ways to tackle your TMD.
Don’t continue to be bothered by the OMG pain of TMD! Give RFD a call to get your appointment scheduled.
TTYL XOX,
your relaxed & unstressed team at Rhoades Family Dentistry
