TMJ Questions

Some of the most common reported causes of TMJ disorder include:

• An impact or injury, sustained to the face, head, neck or jaw
• Grinding or clenching your teeth, which is referred to clinically as bruxism
• Arthritis, which either affects or emanates from the temporomandibular joint
• A dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket of the temporomandibular joint
• Stress
• Living with missing permanent teeth
• Having misaligned or crooked teeth

What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?

The exact symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary widely from case to case.

However, patients with TMJ disorder regularly report the following:

• Pain in the jaw, teeth, neck, or back
• A clicking or popping sound when opening and closing the jaw
• Locking jaw, or limited range of motion in the jaws
• Difficulty chewing
• Malocclusion, which also is known as a misaligned bite
• Ringing, stuffiness, or congestion in the ears

Another common symptom of TMJ disorder is painful headaches, which may be severe or misdiagnosed as migraines. These headaches may feel like migraines or be of migraine-like intensity, but they do not respond well to conventional migraine treatments. Learn more about how TMJ disorder leads to painful headaches, or to explore the difference between TMD headaches and migraines.

Generally speaking, severe pain is a regular consequence of TMJ disorder because the temporomandibular joint is located very close to the trigeminal nerve, a prominent neural pathway. When the temporomandibular joint becomes imbalanced, it can compress or impact the trigeminal nerve, transmitting pain.

Why choose a neuromuscular dentist?

There is no other medical professional better qualified to help a person suffering from TMD than a neuromuscular dentist. A dentist who specializes in neuromuscular dentistry goes through rigorous post-graduate education that is far beyond what is taught in normal dental school. The focus of neuromuscular dentistry is finding or restoring the ideal alignment of the bite and jaw. Neuromuscular dentists use their unique training, in combination with some of the latest technological advances available in dental science, to provide an accurate diagnosis as to whether a case of TMJ disorder is present, and to derive the most effective treatment plan. Dr. Palmer has decades of experience in the specialized discipline of neuromuscular dentistry.

Learn more about the value of seeking a neuromuscular dentist.

How does Dr. Palmer diagnose TMJ disorder?

Our neuromuscular dentists will examine your bite and temporomandibular joints for possible pain and tenderness. We may seek out any clicking or popping sounds as your jaw moves, as well as identify any inordinate stress or strain being placed on the jaw muscles. We may also take X-rays to determine more detailed images of your jaw joints and teeth. Diagnostic methods may include EMG tests, a K7 evaluation or an electrosonogram.

How is TMJ disorder treated?

We prefer to treat TMJ disorder through noninvasive measures, either oral appliance therapy, occlusal adjustments, TENS therapy or orthodontics. Severe cases may respond best to a combination of treatments or, in rare cases, surgery. Using impressions of your mouth, we fabricate an orthotic mouthpiece that is customized to fit as snugly, securely, and comfortably as possible. When this mouthpiece is worn, it applies gentle pressure, guiding your lower jaw into its preferred alignment and resolving the stress being placed on the temporomandibular joints. Once the TMJ disorder has been treated, pain also will be resolved.

TMJ Treatment in Franklin, Thompson Station and Leipers Fork in middle Tennessee

If you or someone you love has TMJ disorder, the only way to obtain lasting relief is to seek diagnosis and treatment from a qualified medical professional like a neuromuscular dentist in Lake Forest. Waiting to see if painful TMJ symptoms will go away only worsens the condition.

Make your appointment today. Call (615) 794-0756 or visit us online to schedule a consultation.