TMD: What is it, and how do you fix it?

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Dentistry

Have you ever experienced jaw pain? Maybe when you wake up in the morning you have tenderness in your face and problems opening your mouth, or maybe you have been hearing a clicking or popping sound when you chew. If you have experienced any of these symptoms you may have TMD otherwise known as temporomandibular disorder.

The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects the jaw to the bones in the skull. This joint makes it possible for the jaw to move up and down, side to side, and also allows for chewing, talking, and yawning to take place.

While the cause of TMD is not certain, it is believed that activities such as grinding or clenching your teeth, arthritis, and stress are all causes of TMD. There are many symptoms associated with TMD which typically affects people ages 20 to 40. You may have problems opening your mouth wide, experience pain or tenderness in the jaw joint or neck and shoulders. Clicking and popping when chewing could also occur, along with swelling on the side of your face. Headaches, toothaches, and earaches are also common symptom.

While TMD is a painful disorder that alters your day-to-day activities, the good news is that your dentist can help fix it. Here are three things a dentist might try to treat TMD.

1.Medications
The right medication can make a huge difference in alleviating the pain caused by TMD. Often times a muscle relaxer will be prescribed to relax the jaw if you grind or clench your teeth. A dentist may also prescribe medications for pain or swelling if your symptoms are severe.

2.Splint or night guard
Relieving your TMD symptoms may be as simple as popping in a night guard before going to bed. Night guards and sprints help protect your teeth from clenching and grinding which helps correct your bite. A night guard is worn when sleeping, while a splint is worn all the time. Ask your dentist if a night guard or splint is right for you.

3.Dental work
If your TMD is so severe, and non-surgical tactics haven’t worked, there are multiple procedures your dentist can perform in order to ease the pain. A dentist can replace missing teeth, or add crowns, bridges, or even add braces to help correct your bite.

Visit your dentist if you are having jaw pain, and he or she can find the right solution for you.

Redheads More Resistant to Novocaine

Although the connection seems unlikely, there is new evidence that suggests that if you have red hair, you are more resistant to local anesthetics like Novocaine. This fact leads to redheads being about 20% more likely to have anxiety about dental procedure, and are much more likely to skip a trip to their dentist! All […]

Different Types of Dental X-Rays

During a dental appointment, it’s not uncommon for your dentist to want to take a closer look at what’s going on inside your mouth using an X-ray. They’re useful tools for dental professionals, but for the rest of us, they can sometimes be a little intimidating. Here’s a quick guide on some of the most […]

Could 3D Printing Be the Future of Root Canals?

Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures in the United States. Annually, approximately 15 million are conducted. If you do the math, that’s around 41,000 a day! Despite their status as a mainstay in dentistry, as well as the best way to save a tooth, root canals can occasionally have adverse effects […]

The Rise of Oral Vaccines

Throughout history (and especially as of late), vaccines have been a hot topic. While vaccination is an efficient way to prevent infectious diseases, the rise of oral vaccines proves this method to be an even more efficient and cost-effective way to prevent infectious diseases. Until now, oral vaccinations have focused on preventing diseases that enter […]

Don’t Underestimate Smokeless Tobacco

It’s common knowledge that smoking affects your oral health, but let’s not forget about smoking’s destructive counterpart: smokeless chewing tobacco (also known as “snuff”). For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, snuff is a fine grain tobacco that a user places in their mouth between their lips and gums. As saliva generates, the […]