Healthy jaws are critical for a healthy and functional smile. Your jaws help you properly communicate and eat. So when you feel a throbbing pain in your jaw whenever you try to do these things, it can be quite debilitating and impact your quality of life. It may also be a sign of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD. This is a chronic jaw disorder that we can treat at Hillstream Dental.
What Is TMJ/TMD?
TMD occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), becomes inflamed. This is the joint that connects your skull to your jawbone. When this happens, it not only affects the joint but all of the muscles that surround it, causing lots of pain and discomfort. The causes of TMD vary, but common ones are genetics, having misaligned/crooked teeth, injury, and arthritis. Teeth grinding can also cause or aggravate the condition.
TMD Symptoms
The most common symptom of TMD is severe jaw pain. You might also experience stiffness, soreness, or swelling in the jaw, especially upon waking. Other symptoms include a clicking or grating sound when you talk or chew, aching ears, toothache, migraines, and facial pain. You might also experience ringing in your ears, dizziness, and sinus issues.
TMD Treatment
If you think you might be suffering from TMD, schedule an appointment with your dentist or a specialist right away to seek the relief you deserve. At Hillstream Dental, we offer a variety of TMJ/TMD treatments that are aimed at getting to the root cause of your symptoms. Whether that means you need a custom mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding or a more intricate form of therapy to help relax your muscles, we’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that helps resolve your unique symptoms and ease your pain. For immediate relief, you might want to try a cold or hot compress on your jaw, eat softer foods, and use over-the-counter pain medication.
TMJ/TMD Treatment in Rochester Hills & St. Clair Shores, MI
At Hillstream Dental, we’re committed to helping our patients enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles. Contact us to schedule a TMD consultation today. Check out our financial page to learn more about how we can help make your treatment with us affordable.
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