The temporomandibular joint sits where your skull and your jaw come into contact. This is a joint that a person uses every time they talk, yawn and chew food. It is a joint that is used when a person feels stress and they clench their jaw, and it is a joint that is used when a person expresses emotion. When the temporomandibular joint is damaged, the result can be some very excruciating pain referred to as TMJ syndrome.
There are a lot of things that can lead to TMJ disorders. Some of these include damaging your teeth. A jaw injury or a jaw misalignment can also lead to this disorder. A lot of individuals who have TMJ disorders also grind their teeth at night. Interestingly, researchers have seen a link between having bad posture and having TMJ. Additionally, since people clench their jaw when they are frustrated or when they are under stress, stress and TMJ disorders often go hand in hand.
The primary symptom of TMJ is an excruciating pain in the jaw. Some people will also experience a popping or a clicking sound in their jaw. In extreme instances, a person’s jaw may lock either open or closed. Because of its proximity to the ears, when there is a problem with the temporomandibular joint, a patient may experience pain in their ears, or they might even hear a popping sound in their ears.
Headaches, a stiff jaw or pain around the temple area is frequently connected to symptoms of TMJ disorders. When you visit our professionals and have them look at your jaw, they are going to prescribe a course of treatment that best suits the problem you’re facing. It is likely that they will first encourage you to use ice packs as well as over-the-counter or prescription drugs for inflammation. We may encourage you to do jaw stretches and neck stretches.
When these conservative treatments do not work, the next step may be more invasive treatment including therapeutic techniques or surgery. While having TMJ disorders can be very frustrating, the nice thing is that the prognosis is generally pretty good because with professional care and at-home care, the pain can be managed.
Individuals who have chronic arthritis are more likely to experience TMJ disorders than those who do not. Additionally, TMJ is seen primarily in women between the ages of 18 through 44. It is not uncommon for suffers to experience symptoms including pain at the base of the tongue, difficulty chewing, shoulder pain, vertigo, as well as a blurred vision in connection with their TMJ pain.
Tinnitus, or a constant ringing or a sense of fullness in the ears, has also been linked to TMJ. It is best not to try to diagnose TMJ pain. There are other infirmities that can mimic TMJ syndrome and require a completely different course of treatment.
The best way for you to determine if you have TMJ and how to treat it is by speaking to our professionals at the office of Dr. Latha Subramanian, DDS in Mountain View. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to learn more.
