Franklin, TN
When you have temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, you have a problem with the temporomandibular joint itself—which connects the jaw to the skull. This imbalance in the jaw, over time, causes adverse effects throughout your body. These adverse effects can be so wide-ranging that the symptoms of TMJ disorder can be incredibly diverse.
One of the most common symptoms shared by TMJ patients, however, is pain. This pain usually is significant, and can be intense and even debilitating—impeding the ability to work, go to school, and perform daily tasks. TMJ patients suffer pain so frequently because the temporomandibular joint is in close proximity to the trigeminal nerve, which sends more sensory information to the brain than any other neural pathway in the body. Since they are located so close to one another, the trigeminal nerve often is aggravated or impacted when the temporomandibular joint develops a problem.
This pain may manifest in the jaws or jaw joints. However, if a case of TMJ disorder goes undiagnosed, the pain can begin to develop in other areas including the face, teeth, and mouth. Over time, the pain could cause problems in the shoulders and back. Compression of the muscles and nerves in the neck and back even can cause tingling, numbness, or the loss of sensation in your extremities. The pain also can lead to severe headaches. Click here to learn more about how TMD causes headaches, and how TMJ headaches often are misdiagnosed as migraines.
The symptoms of TMJ disorder
As mentioned above, individuals with TMD can have widely different sets of symptoms but some of the most frequently reported by TMJ patients include the following:
- Hearing a clicking or popping sound whenever the jaw opens and closes
- Limited range of motion in the jaw, including locked jaw
- Problems chewing
- Teeth grinding or clenching, also referred to as bruxism
- Tooth pain that appears to migrate to various locations in the mouth
- Teeth that are becoming loose, worn, cracked and chipped for no discernible reason
- Pressure or pain located behind or below one eye
- Pain or tension in the face
- Congestion in the ears or ringing in the ears, which is also referred to as tinnitus
- Earaches
- Dizziness and/or vertigo
- Malocclusion, also referred to as a misaligned bite
- Problems with posture
Do I have TMD?
This disorder can affect people of various ages and lifestyles. However, the disorder is more prevalent among women than men. Individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 also are more likely to develop TMJ disorder.
Are you experiencing any combination of the above symptoms? If so, especially if you have sustained a recent blow or impact to your jaw, head or neck, then TMJ disorder could be the root cause of the problems you are experiencing. For TMJ patients or to be screened to see if the disorder is present, a neuromuscular dentist is the best-qualified medical professional to provide a diagnosis.
A specialty of dental science that focuses on the alignment of the bite and jaw, neuromuscular dentistry involves extensive post-graduate training and continuing education to make the proper diagnosis while using state-of-the-art technology. Neuromuscular dentists possess the training and experience to identify TMJ and differentiate it from other ailments with common symptoms, such as migraines. Learn more about the importance of seeing a neuromuscular dentist.
Do you still have questions about TMJ? Click here, or call the office of Lee Palmer, DDS, at (615) 794-0756 or visit us online to schedule a consultation.