When people suffer from jaw problems, they often say that they have TMJ, but we all have TMJ! It stands for your temporomandibular joints or your jaw joints. What people actually mean is that they have a problem or pain in their jaw joints, commonly referred to as TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder.
TMD is a broad term referring to a collection of conditions related to your jaw. You might have problems with the joints themselves, which could include jaw pain, clicking, popping, or grinding of your joint that you can hear when you chew or talk. You might even have problems with your jaw locking from time to time, and we know that can be a scary experience. Some other problems caused by TMD might surprise you and include headaches, neck aches, shoulder pain, facial swelling, and tinnitus.
TMD can also cause problems with your teeth. Since it is closely related to bruxism (excessive grinding) you might experience tooth pain, sensitivity, worn teeth, gum recession, or notching on the front of your teeth, also known as abfractions. In fact, you can wear down your teeth, making them shortened and even breaking them.
One or two of these symptoms might be bearable, but when you combine a number of them, you can experience a reduced quality of life and fatigue from constant pain. Your sleep might be disturbed by bearing down or grinding of your teeth and we all know that headaches can disrupt your routine and make you feel terrible. We empathize with your suffering and will recommend a solution to help reduce or relieve your symptoms.
Jaw pain can come from a number of medical and dental conditions as well as from clenching and grinding your teeth. TMJD (temporomandibular joint disorder) is a condition that encompasses a number of symptoms related to your jaw joints.
If you have regular jaw pain or clicking, popping, locking, grinding in your joints, or if your teeth do not come together correctly, you may benefit from scheduling an evaluation to determine the cause of your discomfort. When left untreated, jaw conditions often worsen, requiring surgery.
Other symptoms including headaches, neck aches, shoulder pain, and migraines may be connected to clenching, grinding, or TMJD. Even tinnitus can come from excessive grinding of your teeth and resolves with proper treatment.
Anthony Bartels, DDS offers a non-invasive, effective treatment to reduce the symptoms of TMJD. Occlusal splints are specialized nightguards that help guide your jaw into a comfortable position so that your muscles can relax. At our office, we create customized splints that are comfortable and easy to get used to. Many patients report feeling improvement after just a week or two of wear.
If you suspect you may have TMJD, call us right away and we will schedule you for an exam with Dr. Bartels so you can receive the care you need to feel good again.
One of the most common and effective treatments for TMD is splint therapy. We will create a custom occlusal (bite) splint to help relax your jaw and gently guide it into a position that allows your symptoms to improve. Treatment is comfortable and non-invasive. It may reduce or eliminate your symptoms with regular wear. When you wear it while you sleep, it also protects your teeth from damage due to bruxism.
Our occlusal splints are easy to get used to because they fit your teeth snugly and comfortably. We will need to check it periodically because excessive grinding can wear away at the surface, making it less effective.
Many of our patients report reduced symptoms after just a week or two of regular wear. This type of treatment can also help to prevent further damage to your jaw joint.
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you should consider an evaluation from Jonesboro dentist Anthony Bartels, DDS. He has extensive experience in treating jaw-related pain. Don’t suffer needlessly from headaches, jaw pain, and facial swelling when we can provide you with reliable relief.
If you have questions about TMD or possible treatment options, call our Jonesboro, AR dental office to schedule.
Dr. Bartels attended Arkansas State University, where he earned a bachelor's of science degree in zoology. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Louisiana State University.
Dr. Bartels is on the Board of Directors at St. Bernard’s Hospice and a staff member of St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center. Dr. Bartels was voted “Best of the Best” by Occasions Magazine and KAIT8 television viewers. He received an award for many years of volunteer service to the Women’s Crisis Center of Northeast Arkansas in 2014, as well as the “Outstanding Young ...
Your jaw joint is unique compared to all the other joints in your body. This incredible structure, also known as your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short, is the only instance of two separate joints working in concert with every movement. This is because you have one TMJ on ...
TMJ is used to describe issues in the temporomandibular joint—sometimes, it is called TMD.
The TMJ is a hinge-type joint that allows your jaw to move when you speak, yawn, or eat. It is also the joint connecting your lower jaw to the area just in front of your ears.
Your ...
Stress and other factors can cause people to grind their teeth, also known as Bruxism. Many people are unaware they do this because it often happens at night. Over time, grinding can cause your teeth to wear down and chip. Muscle tension from bruxism can lead to jaw pain of ...
