4 Jaw-dropping Facts about TMJ Disorder

Louisville, KY

While many people suffer from symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, some do it in silence, not realizing that their symptoms have a name … and a treatment. Approximately 10 million Americans have TMJ disorder, which is a condition that causes pain in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. It can also cause chronic headaches, worn teeth, a clicking or popping in the jaw joint and/or ringing or pain deep in the ear.

Our TMJ dentist in Louisville has compiled a list of four jaw-dropping facts about TMJ disorder in the hopes that patients who identify with any of the listed symptoms below may seek help from a qualified dentist to address the pain they’re experiencing.

Dental pain/Toothaches

No different than the rest of our body, our face, head, jaw, mouth, teeth and tongue are designed to work together. Because of that harmonious balance, when one part is out of sync or not functioning properly, it can cause other issues. One of those issues is TMJ disorder and an associated dental condition called bruxism, which makes affected people unconsciously clench and grind their teeth, usually during sleep. Pain signals can also travel throughout the mouth to mimic tooth pain. If tooth pain doesn’t have an obvious cause, such as a crack or decay, the root cause could be TMJ disorder.

Chronic headaches

TMJ disorder is sometimes the culprit behind chronic headaches and/or migraines. The disorder occurs because of tension and stress on the jaw joint muscles. As inflammation develops and blood flow is restricted, nerves compress in the jaw, face and head, directly resulting in head pain and sometimes neck and back pain, too. If your over-the-counter pain medications don’t seem to be helping your chronic headaches, talk to our Jeffersonville TMJ specialists at Exceptional Dentistry to see if TMJ disorder could be causing your pain.

Ringing in ears

The temporomandibular joints are like hinges that connect the jaw to the skull. The ear canals are located in close proximity to the jaw joints. If the jaw joints are inflamed, this could result in a stopped-up feeling deep inside the ear. Some sufferers report experiencing tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears that doesn’t subside with time.

Surgery isn’t the only option

While the most severe cases of TMJ disorder may require surgery for relief, most cases can be addressed far less invasively with oral appliance therapy, which is often the recommendation of our family dentist in Shepherdsville. Oral appliances stabilize the bite, relieving inflammation and pain in the jaw joint. Long-term results could include relief from other TMJ symptoms, too.

TMJ Treatment in Louisville, Jeffersonville, and Shepherdsville, KY

If you’ve been suffering from jaw joint or muscle pain, chronic headaches, unexplained dental pain or frequent ringing in your ears, relief is just a phone call away. Our TMJ dentist will provide a comprehensive exam and give you a customized treatment plan to get you on the path to living pain-free. Call us at Exceptional Dentistry, 888-918-3336, or reach us online to schedule an appointment today.