TMD or temporomandibular disorder is associated with issues affecting your facial muscles. It’s often confused with TMJ, which refers to the actual temporomandibular joint that connects the jaw to the temporal bones in the skull, located just in front of the ear. It’s helpful in allowing for movement of the jaw (up, down, and sideways), along with talking, chewing, and yawning. So many important functions hinge on this powerful joint, which is why it is sometimes subject to jaw pain, discomfort, and even misalignment.
TMD symptoms are often misconstrued as some other medical abnormality, leading to continued misdiagnosis. The highly trained, skilled dentists at McKee Family Dentistry can look for the common signs, to help you feel better and get back to enjoying life once again.
How Can I Know If I Have TMD?
The symptoms of TMD are so diverse, that it can be difficult to pinpoint their exact cause at both your doctor’s and dentist’s office.
Here are some of the symptoms we screen for:
- Headaches or migraines
- Stiffness or soreness in the neck, shoulders and back
- Facial pain
- Jaw pain
- Tingling of the fingertips
- Numbness in your fingers or arms
- Sensitive teeth or loose teeth
- Clenching or grinding
- Dizziness
- Ear congestion
- Ringing in the ear
- Limited mouth opening
- Depression
- Insomnia
How We Can Help End TMJ Pain
The good news is all of our dentistry relates to TMJ disorder, because we’re consistently taking the comfort and function of your bite into consideration.
This starts with doing everything we can to stop jaw and bite problems before they become a painful issue. Using our TekScan, we can map the pressure points of your bite for restoration perfection and minor adjustments.
We also offer a variety of guards and splints including prevention guards, nightguards, occlusal splints, and occlusal guards. These guards can protect and correct your smile and effectively end TMD pain.
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