Currently there are numerous amounts of people who are dealing with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, but have no idea what it is. And, without understanding the source of their pain, they don’t know that a proper solution can be found at their dentist’s office. Yes, the dentist!

By visiting Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia, Dr. Mayoor Patel can help provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for those suffering from pain in the jaw. Let’s take a look at the pain and how you can find relief from jaw pain.

TMJ Pain

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ)  connects the lower jaw at the temporal bone. Most disorders of the TMJ have symptoms of pain or a “clicking” sound when you open and close your mouth, or chew food–bet you weren’t quite aware of that, were you?

Some signs and symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), include:

  • Grinding and clenching teeth
  • Sore, stiff muscles around the jaw
  • Frequent headaches or neck aches
  • Pain worsens when teeth are clenched
  • Clicking jaw when opening mouth
  • Painful to eat and yawn
  • Arthritis problems
  • Teeth meet differently

TMJ problems can develop for many reasons. Clenching and grinding of the teeth can stress the TMJ joint, as well as injury or disease of the mouth. Whatever the cause may be, you will most likely have a misaligned bite, pain, and a clicking noise when you open your mouth and it may also be difficult to open your mouth wide.

Seek Treatment

TMD can be treated with a variety of different options. However, one important and very successful form of treatment is oral appliance therapy, which is offered at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia. The use of oral appliance therapy is beneficial in providing relief from the pressure of an improper bite and other conditions.

Contact our office today to learn more about TMD, jaw pain and oral appliance therapy. Remember, you don’t have to “just deal” with the pain any longer.