HIGHLY SKILLED & COMPASSIONATE DEVOTED TO THE NEEDS OF EACH PATIENT
“TMJ” is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, that is to say, the jaw joint. The temporomandibular joints are the joints in front of the ears attaching the lower jaw to the skull. They are essential to daily jaw functions such as opening and closing your mouth, chewing and speaking.
TMJ disorders refer to conditions, manifested by pain in the area of the jaw and jaw muscles and limitations in the ability of the jaw to operate normally while speaking, eating, and swallowing.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health states that 10.8 million people in the USA suffer from TMJ problems. 90% of those seeking treatment for TMJ are women during their childbearing years.
Medical research has not yet defined all the causes of the various TMJ disorders. Some patients report having TMJ symptoms following trauma, dental treatment, traffic accidents, or following the adoption of habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth. Arthritis in other parts of the body is sometimes linked to TMJ pain.
At present, there are more than 50 treatments in use ranging from very conservative, reversible therapies to more aggressive, invasive approaches.
Please call us to schedule a consultation to help you decide which therapy is right for you.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss any aspect of your dental health – we don’t charge for giving advice!