How Can I Get My Jaw To Stop Hurting?

Woman with TMJ disorder holder her jaw in pain.

If you are experiencing pain in your jaw it could be caused by many different kinds of conditions, from gum inflammation to a toothache, but one of the most common is a TMJ disorder.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint connecting your jawbone to the skull. It is one of the most used joints in your body as it allows for chewing, and talking, we utilize this joint daily, and if it becomes inflamed it can cause major pain and discomfort. Dental Partners of Boston’s dentists can treat TMJ which we will share more about below.

This inflammation or other cause of pain is called TMD, temporomandibular disorder, or TMJ disorder. More commonly it’s known simply as TMJ.

Over 15 percent of Americans deal with chronic facial pain. This includes jaw pain or headaches related to TMD. Women between the ages of 20-40 are the most impacted. This pain can last for a few weeks and then slowly go away, but for some patients, the pain won’t stop.

What Can Cause TMJ?

There is no single cause of TMJ, but it can be related to tension in your jaw or temporal muscles. There are many factors that contribute to the problem. Some common examples include:

  • A Jaw or Neck Injury.
  • Grinding or clenching your teeth.
  • Dislocation of the joint
  • Poorly Placed Crowns or Fillings
  • Improper Bite Alignment

Do I Have The Symptoms of  TMJ?

If you are wondering if you have TMJ know the condition can actually impact patients differently. The symptoms you might experience if you have TMJ can include:

  • Jaw Pain or Stiffness
  • Pain Around The Jaw, Cheek, Ears, & Neck
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Pain While Chewing
  • Lock Jaw
  • Popping, Clicking, or Grating jaw noises
  • Earaches
  • Changes To Your Facial Expressions
  • Changes To How Your Upper & Lower Teeth Fit Together

As you can see there is a vast array of symptoms you might feel if you have TMJ. A dentist cannot officially diagnose the condition but our Boston dentists can help treat TMJ  symptoms.

How Do You Treat TMJ?

Once we determine what symptoms you are experiencing our Boston dental team will work with you to create a treatment plan. We will address the main causes of your pain and use methods specific to the symptom and if needed a custom TMJ appliance can be created that you wear while you sleep.  The appliance is like a mouth guard that helps to realign your jaw and prevent additional damage from happening.  Your custom TMJ appliance can be made in our office in a single office visit, and we will work with you to ensure that it is helping to alleviate the symptoms you are feeling from TMJ.

Schedule An Appointment

If you are experiencing some of the symptoms above and feeling discomfort schedule an appointment with Dental Partners of Boston today. Our experience and team approach will give you a customized treatment plan specific to your case, and faster results than at a normal dental practice. Stop living with the discomfort of TMJ. Schedule an appointment with our practice today!

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