06 Sep Top Three Warning Signs of TMD
TMD
What is TMJ? A lot of people confuse it with the condition of the jaw bone that causes pain, but TMJ actually stands for the Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint that connects the mandible (jaw), to the temporal bone. The condition of the TMJ is called Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). TMD is very common disorder, affecting approximately 10 million Americans.
How do you know if you might be developing TMD? There are many warning signs, so if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to speak to your dentist or let us assist you sooner rather than later so that the disorder doesn’t cause more pain than is absolutely necessary.
- Pain – This is the number one complaint of TMD sufferers. Tmjfacts.com explains that the pain can go far beyond just the jawline, sometimes affecting the “face, joint area, ears, temples, teeth, shoulders or neck.” The pain can be subtle at times, but very intense at others, especially while chewing.
- Limited range of motion – because of the pain, TMD sufferers most likely will not want to open their mouths very wide. If the sufferers do open their mouths wide, oftentimes the jaw can get stuck in an opened position. Tmjfacts.com also states that if the person is grinding his or her teeth, the jaw can also get stuck in a closed position.
- Popping or clicking of the jaw bone – A little popping now and then when not paired with pain is not any cause for red flags. However, popping/clicking paired with pain is something of which to take heed. The TMJ is a ball-and-socket joint, meaning that a ball joint fits snugly into a depressed socket, so when there is displacement the popping noise will occur.
None of these symptoms are normal. If you are experiencing issues with sleep, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can arrange the perfect treatment plan for you.