Anytime you experience discomforts, such as a headache or an earache, your body is trying to tell you something. When the condition underlying pain is TMJ disorder, the path toward resolution may be long and winding. We are here to help you find your way back to comfort.
Facial pain, earaches, and headaches affect more than 15% of Americans on a regular basis. Usually, when pain occurs, the steps that are taken to resolve it focus on its location. Headaches are usually treated with over-the-counter pain medication. An earache may cause a person to visit their doctor to determine if an infection is to blame. Rarely are these types of pain immediately associated with the jaw or the joints that enable the jaw to move in various ways. They should be.
Symptoms of TMJ
Temporomandibular Disorder, often referred to as TMJ or TMD, can cause some seemingly random symptoms. Most people think of the common sign of this condition as clicking or pain directly in the jaw. Aside from this, TMD may instigate:
- Chronic head and neck pain.
- Ear pain or ringing in the ears.
- Soreness or tenderness of the muscles of the jaw.
- Tooth sensitivity in the absence of dental conditions.
Restoring Comfort with tMJ treatment
The goal of treating TMJ Disorder is to restore comfort. You should be able to chew and yawn without your jaw clicking, and without pain. Chronic headaches should not be your norm. When these and other symptoms originate in the jaw, there are a few ways to resolve them.
Sometimes, TMJ pain is caused by overuse. You have a piece of gum in your mouth most of the day, or you grind and clench your teeth when you sleep. These habits place an extraordinary amount of stress on the joints and all the muscles, ligaments, and nerves that support them. Resting the jaw could be enough to minimize pain. Depending on the severity of pain and frequency of cause, Dr. Lee may also recommend that you wear a custom-fit oral appliance while you sleep.
Schedule a consultation
Do you need a McLean dentist to help you reduce TMJ related pain? Call 703-448-1020. We’re happy to schedule a convenient appointment time for you.