How TMJ Can Affect Your Life

By Tara Pingle

It is estimated that ten million Americans will suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD, or TMJ) at some point in their life. Many of these people will never have their condition diagnosed.

What is TMJ/TMD?

TMJ is a term that was coined to describe a disorder involving a complex of structures including the jaw joints, muscles of the head and neck, and the biting relationship of the teeth. If these musculoskeletal structures are not functioning in a physiologic manner due to a misalignment of the teeth, jaw or jaw joints, or an imbalance of the muscles which leads to muscle tension and spasm, then a variety of painful symptoms can develop.

Causes of TMJ

The temporomandibular joint is a delicate mechanism, responsible for a wide range of movement. As a result, it can become misaligned quite easily.

Some of the causes of TMJ disorder include:

  • Natural wear and tear that changes the structure of the bite
  • Injury to the teeth or jaw
  • Poorly aligned dental work, which can throw off the balance of the bite
  • Tooth loss
  • Strain or tension of the muscles that support the jaw

Symptoms of TMJ

The symptoms and effects of TMJ disorder, or TMD, are similarly far-ranging, including:

  • Headaches and migraines
  • Neck pain
  • Jaw pain
  • Clicking and popping of the jaw
  • Misalignment of the bite
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Tingling in the fingertips
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Tooth grinding, also called bruxism
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Difficulty chewing

Many people suffer from these and other effects of misalignment without realizing the cause. Some have tried for years to find the cause of their headaches or migraines, for example, without success. Many temporomandibular joint disorder patients have consulted with numerous physicians only to end up simply treating the symptoms with painkillers, never realizing what the source of their problems is.

Diagnosis and Treatment of TMD/TMJ

Unfortunately, this condition usually only becomes worse over time, and the symptoms can actually exacerbate the condition itself. In many patients, for example, the misalignment of the TMJ causes them to grind their teeth in their sleep, which further stresses and misaligns the joints and muscles.

For More Information:

If you think you might be suffering from a misalignment of your jaw joint, it is important to have your condition diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, to avoid serious damage.

It's important to seek out a trained and experienced dentist for accurate diagnostics and appropriate treatment of this condition.

Article courtesy of www.ideamarketers.com.



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