Jaw pain keeping you up and night or preventing you from enjoying your favorite foods? You may have TMJ dysfunction, or temporomandibular joint disorder. The temporomandibular joint is where your jawbone connects to your skull, and whether you realize it or not, you use it constantly!
Spring Break is here! If that means you’ll be hitting the beach, heading to the mountains, or traveling to your favorite vacation destination, you’ve probably gotten everything ready … or so you think. Nobody wants to think about the possibility that their out-of-town fun could be derailed by a dental emergency, but it does happen! But when you’re hundreds of miles from our office, what should you do?
At our orthodontic offices in Atlanta, we often see patients who have impacted teeth – and most don’t even know it! Braces are one of the many ways to treat an impacted tooth and give it space to move into the correct position. In this article, we’ll be showing you what an impacted tooth is, what causes an impacted tooth, and how they’re treated.
Wake up with headaches? Find yourself rubbing a sore neck or jaw first thing in the morning, and you’re not sure where they came from? You may be suffering from bruxism, also known as tooth grinding.
TMJ disorder, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder, is a condition of the joint where the jawbone attaches to the skull. TMJ disorder causes aching jaw pain and other symptoms that can severely disrupt suffers’ lives, making eating, sleeping and even talking difficult.
What is the temporomandibular joint?
The temporomandibular joint is a sliding hinge joint that attaches your mandible (jawbone) to your skull. This joint is engaged every time you open, close, or move your mouth. Each bone in the joint is covered with cartilage. In between the two bones, a small shock-absorbing disc keeps the movement of the joint smooth.
What causes TMJ disorder?
TMJ disorder occurs when the joint is damaged or inflamed. This typically occurs when:
Causes of TMJ syndrome include:
Symptoms of TMJ disorder
Pain is the most prominent symptom of a TMJ disorder. TMJ pain can occur in the jaw itself or in the surrounding areas. Symptoms of TMJ disorder include:
Treatment for TMJ disorder
Short-term episodes of TMJ disorder often resolve on their own. For people with persistent TMJ disorder, these TMJ treatments can help:
Pain relievers – To relieve the pain and discomfort of TMJ.
Anti-inflammatories – To reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Muscle relaxant medication – Muscle relaxers can help relieve symptoms when TMJ disorder is caused by muscle spasms.
Mouth guards and appliances – Guards and appliances reduce tooth grinding and clenching and well as keep the jaw in proper position while sleeping to relieve stress on the joint.
Physical therapy – Stretching and strengthening exercises can help relieve symptoms of TMJ disorder.
Injections – Corticosteroid injections into the muscles responsible for chewing may help relieve pain.
Surgery – Several TMJ surgeries can help TMJ sufferers find relief. Surgical procedures for TMJ focus on repairing damaged parts of the joint so that it moves freely without pain.
Home remedies for TMJ syndrome
There are plenty of things you can do outside your doctor’s office to help relieve your TMJ symptoms.
Ready to find relief from your TMJ disorder?
We can help. Schedule your appointment today.
