TMJ Dentist & Jaw Doctor Specialist
Dealing With TMJ Complications
When it comes to chronic facial pain, such as headaches, earaches, or jaw aches, it is worth knowing that millions of American adults suffer from one or more of these afflictions.
As for the source of those aches and pains, we have found that they correlate with the TM joints (temporomandibular joints). These joints, located on each side of the head, work together to allow the jaw to move in various ways for speaking, chewing, and other functions.
Understanding TMJ
TMJ, also known as temporomandibular disorder, is a broader term referring to several conditions that affect the TM joints, facial nerves, and jaw muscles. Symptoms of TMJ may occur when people twist their jaws while opening them or move them to the side while speaking or chewing.
There are a few major symptoms that we see with patients who have TMJ and difficulty opening in St. Louis, including:
- Earaches
- Head and neckaches
- Jaw and jaw muscle tenderness
- Pain or soreness in the jaw during the morning or night
- Pain or soreness in the jaw while chewing or yawning
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Clicks or pops when opening the jaw
The Causes Of TMJ
Several factors can cause TMJ, though we find that the most common are:
- Arthritis
- Jaw dislocation
- Misaligned bite
Stress can also play a huge role in TMJ. Many people find that their TMJ is aggravated after they perform physically strenuous tasks, such as heavy lifting, working out, etc. The level of pain can significantly increase when the jaw muscles are overused, particularly when grinding or clenching the teeth. Bruxism, the formal term for teeth grinding, causes an increase in the severity of TMJ.
Diagnosing TMJ
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all test to determine if someone is suffering from TMJ. However, it is essential to identify if it is the primary cause of your aches and pains before beginning treatment. It is quite common for people to mistake sinus problems or common toothaches as TMJ symptoms. In many cases, psychological and behavioral factors can come together to cause TMJ as well.
Luckily, here at the Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we can usually diagnose a disorder with a simple description of the symptoms you have, as well as an initial physical examination. We can take X-rays to assess how your bite fits together, or perform specialized TM joint X-rays to examine the possible underlying problem more closely.
What To Do If You Think You Might Have TMJ
One positive aspect of TMJ is that it can often resolve on its own over time. The most important thing to do if you believe you have TMJ is to practice self-care and stress management. Ridding yourself of excess stress can help you ease TMJ symptoms overall.
Of course, you can also visit us here at the Dental Anesthesia Center to discuss the possibilities of conservative TMJ treatment.
Making Your First Appointment
It is all too often that TMJ patients avoid the dentist for fear of bringing out their pain. Unfortunately, putting your oral health on the back burner only creates a road to more pain and problems in the future. We work with a diverse range of patients at the Dental Anesthesia Center, specializing in sedation and sleep dentistry for those who require additional support during their dental procedures.
If you’re experiencing jaw pain, please schedule an appointment with us so we can identify the underlying cause and help you return to your normal self. We’re the first two Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri. Call us at (314) 862-7844 to schedule your first appointment.