TMJ/TMD

What Is Temporomandibular Disorder

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) describes a series of issues that are related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). These issues also affect the head, neck, and facial tissues surrounding the TMJ. TMD/TMJ problems are often difficult to diagnose and identify because they express themselves in common symptoms such as headaches, muscle spams near the jaw, pain in the ears, muscle pain, and more.

The issues that afflict these areas include joint damage and inflammation, teeth grinding, or tight muscles. These TMD/TMJ problems can even progress to the point where you begin to hear popping noises or experience jaw locking that indicates it may be time for an MRI so Dr. Speaks can accurately diagnose the condition of this joint. These problems may arise when your jaws are misaligned, or your teeth are in the wrong spot and affecting the structures surrounding them.

These issues can typically be solved through insightful orthodontic treatment such as braces. This is a great example of how having straight teeth, and a correctly aligned bite is essential to your good oral health as well as having a beautiful smile. Chronic neck and facial pain aren’t fun for anyone and, if diagnosed as TMD/TMJ, we want to work toward treating this as efficiently as possible.

You may be experiencing some of the symptoms associated with this group of problems without it being TMD/TMJ at all. There are a few tips and tricks you can implement to lessen the discomfort you feel. This includes refraining from grinding and clenching your teeth, relaxing your face, chewing your food on both sides of your mouth, and more. For more information on TMD/TMJ issues, contact our office today. We never want you to suffer in silence, and we’ve seen these issues occur many times. They are often preventable or easily cured with treatment, so there’s little reason to worry about the long-term effects if you tend to these problems right away.