Are you experiencing pain in your face or jaw? Do you experience episodes of jaw locking? Does your jaw make clicking or popping sounds? These symptoms can be caused by TMD or temporomandibular disorder. This is a term that describes a group of problems related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and nearby muscles. The symptoms of TMD can be both uncomfortable and frustrating. However, you can obtain relief from the symptoms you're experiencing as there are many treatment options available.
Symptoms of TMD
There are many symptoms that may be TMD related:
- Pain or tightness in the sides of the face
- Pain in the front of the rear or sides of the head
- Headaches
- Sounds coming from the joints such as popping or crunching sounds
- Episodes of jaw locking – closed or open
TMD can lead to many problems including swelling, deterioration, and damage of the joint tissue. The joint tissue is the tissue that cushions the jawbones during the opening and closing of the mouth.
TMD Treatment
Common pain relievers and cold compresses can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMD, but for more serious cases, we may recommend alternative treatments. Oftentimes, we suggest using a mouth guard at night to relieve teeth grinding. Sometimes we recommend the use of orthodontic appliances or retainers to alleviate the discomfort or to re-direct the positioning of the jaw joint. For the most severe cases, certain invasive procedures may be recommended.
If you suspect that you may have TMD, we encourage you to call our Durham dental office for an appointment. Dr. Clifton will provide you with a TMJ examination wherein he will evaluate the “hinge” of your jaw. He will then recommend the most effective treatment possible based on his findings and will help you live your life more comfortably.
You can request an appointment by submitting the 'Appointment Request' form or call (919) 471-2422 and one of our friendly team members will help you schedule an appointment time. We look forward to seeing you soon!