It affects a large percent of American adults, and many don’t even realize that it’s completely treatable. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ, causes chronic pain for millions every year. If you suffer from pain or pressure in or around the ear, headaches or tenderness and pain in the jaw muscles make an appointment with our TMJ team at one of our Central Dental locations today! Central Dental can identify TMJ symptoms and offers TMJ treatment in Little Rock, Jacksonville and Conway so wherever you live in Central Arkansas we have an office near you.
What is TMJ and how can you get TMJ relief?
For starters, try this: touch one of your earlobes with your pointer finger. Now, move your finger about an inch in the direction of your nose and a little bit up so it’s positioned right in front of the ear and about halfway between your temple and your cheekbone. Finally, try opening and closing your mouth. Do you feel that joint moving? That’s your temporomandibular joint, a small joint comprised of bone, muscle and cartilage that connects the jawbone to the rest of the skull and ensures proper jaw movement and function. It’s the most commonly used joint in the body, and just like with your car, if there’s any part that is constantly in motion sometimes there can be mechanical problems.
TMJ sufferers can have problems with the joint itself, but more commonly the muscles around the joint are the problem. Frequently grinding or clenching your teeth at night can cause pain in these muscles, or there can simply be a displacement of the disk between the socket and the bone. If you hear clicking or popping sounds or have trouble or pain when opening or closing your mouth it may be due to a displaced disk.
How can you treat TMJ?
Since there are so many causes of discomfort in the temporomandibular area there is no one cure-all solution, but treatment can range from therapy and jaw exercises to surgical correction depending on the severity of the problem and the effectiveness of nonsurgical options. In order to correctly diagnose your unique TMJ problem and identify the correct treatment it’s important to visit a medical professional with experience treating TMJ. At Central Dental, we have a team with significant experience in diagnosing and treating TMJ, and we would love to help ease your chronic pain or discomfort. Call our Little Rock, Jacksonville or Conway office today to set up an appointment and take charge of your dental health.
