At our Marin County Dentist Office we see patients who complain about chronic pain in the jaw, head or neck, common symptoms of TMJ, a common disorder that affects many people. Most are unaware that these aches and pains are related to TMJ.
Painful symptoms such as headaches, tooth, and neck pain are a result of excessive pressure on the temporomandibular joint. This is caused by damage from decay or trauma, causing uneven surfaces on your teeth. This can result in an unbalanced bite that puts abnormal amounts of stress on the jaw joint.
If you hear a clicking or popping noise in the jaw, when you open your mouth, this is actually the sound of the joint breaking down. The sound is caused by cartilage in the joint becoming permanently malformed from prolonged overuse. You may also experience soreness in facial muscles as a result of continued stress. Another of the common TMJ symptoms is ear congestion or ringing in the ears.
So exactly what does TMJ treatment consist of? If your symptoms are caused by an improper bite, the team at our Marin County Dentist Office can create a custom-made mouth guard is designed to reposition the TMJ and surrounding muscle into a relaxed position. The mouth guard will stop the pain and return the mouth to a stable, comfortable position.
If you believe that the symptoms you are experiencing are related to TMJ, please contact our office. We will arrange a consultation with our dentist to discuss your situation and explain possible options, including a custom mouth guard.
Chronic TMJ pain does not have to take over your life. Teeth grinding, headaches, and neck or jaw pain can be eliminated with the proper TMJ treatment.