What’s Wrong With My Jaw?
Do you find yourself often experiencing discomfort in your jaw? Or do you find it difficult at times to open your mouth wide enough to eat something such as a burger or large sandwich? If so, you may be experiencing symptoms related to a common condition. If left untreated, this condition will continue to worsen, greatly affecting your quality of life. Continue reading to learn more about this condition.
What is TMD?
If you are experiencing repeated discomfort in your jaw, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, also commonly known as TMD. TMD is an issue that can arise due to problems in the facial muscles and jaw joints. The main joint that is typically the problem is the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that attaches your jaw to your skull and works like a hinge allowing you to move your mouth while eating, speaking and swallowing. Oftentimes patients remain undiagnosed because they don’t realize the symptoms they are experiencing are actually TMD. Symptoms of TMD can include:
- Discomfort in jaw, face, ear, or neck
- Jaw popping
- Lockjaw when opening or closing the mouth
- Trouble opening or closing the mouth
- Frequent and recurring headaches and migraines
What if TMD Remains Untreated?
TMD that remains untreated can leave patients debilitated. TMD conditions will continue to worsen over time if not diagnosed and treated effectively, potentially affecting your quality of life. During times of flare-ups and discomfort, it is not uncommon for a patient to have difficulty opening their mouth to eat.
How We Treat TMD
For many patients, we recommend the use of a simple, removable appliance to help stabilize symptoms. For other patients, there may be an underlying bite issue that is leading to TMD symptoms. In these cases, we will recommend Invisalign® to transition the teeth into the proper placement and realign the teeth and bite. We may also recommend properly restoring teeth with the help of porcelain crowns or onlays.
If TMD conditions are not treated, the symptoms could increase and become more severe over time. If you live in or around the Upper East Side and are experiencing any of these symptoms or are interested in learning more about TMD, please contact our office today. We look forward to seeing you soon.
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