ONE OUT OF EIGHT PEOPLE in the United States are living with pain related to TMD every day. Thankfully, if diagnosed and treated correctly, relief is just around the corner.
Common Symptoms of TMD
TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is pain and discomfort caused by problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw.
Common TMD symptoms include:
- Jaw muscle stiffness; limited movement or locking of the jaw
- Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint
- Chronic headaches/migraines
- Pain in the neck and shoulders
- Earaches or ringing ears
TMD Has Multiple Causes
Adding to TMD’s complexity, there can be multiple causes. While an autoimmune disease or various forms of arthritis can affect your temporomandibular joint, some lesser known causes of TMD include bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching), bad bite.
Stress has also been strongly associated with TMD.
Depending on your symptoms, various treatments and solutions are available such as:
- Muscle relaxation techniques/stress management
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Medication
- Surgery
TMD treatment can involve a number of specialists and have a team approach.
Dr Daoudi, specialist prosthodontist, is highly trained in the management of TMD – TMJ problems. This is part of being specialist in prosthodontics.
Dr Daoudi prefers conservative and natural approach where possible. The treatment can include the use of a special custom-made bite guard – mouth guard.
Attention to the balance of your jaw, muscles neck and shoulder can be assessed and managed by our team of specialist Osteopath.
In addition, bite correction can take place to manage any imbalance.
Medications of various strengths can be used in some cases.
Don’t Suffer Needlessly!
If you are experiencing symptoms of TMD or have any questions, make an appointment to come visit us. We’re here to help relieve your pain and regain your quality of life!
Thank you for your continued trust in our practice!
Image by Flickr user web4camguy used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
