My Jaw is Clicking and Painful! Can My Dentist Help Me?
If your jaw is clicking when you chew, chances are you have temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The temporomandibular joint is the joint where your jaw connects to your skull. It functions as a sliding hinge to keep the movement of your jaw nice and smooth while avoiding collision with the bones in your skull. This is one of the most the most complex joints in your body because it can move in many different directions
What Causes TMD?
This painful ailment affects millions of Americans, especially women between the ages of 20 and 40. TMD can occur if the joint cartilage is inflamed, erodes, or becomes misaligned due to injury or overuse. Don’t suffer needlessly with this problem, Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS can help you find relief.
Other common origins of TMD problems:
- Teeth clenching (often from stress)
- Arthritis – degenerative bone defects
- Misalignment of upper and lower teeth
- Poor posture affects your back and neck. Taking short breaks from the computer, rest your arms and loosen up muscles to avoid this problem.
Although TMD does not always have an obvious cause, Dr. Evanson can properly diagnose what ails you, and help you on the path to recovery.
TMD Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of TMD vary and it’s hard to know for sure if TMD is the culprit because one or more of these symptoms can also be present with other problems. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Evanson so she can perform an examination to properly diagnose what’s going on.
Common TMD Symptoms Include:
- Jaw locking, clicking, or popping indicate that something is wrong.
- Experiencing pain when you open your mouth widely to yawn or chew.
- Headaches that mimic migraines, pain with pressure behind the eyes, or earaches.
- Jaw muscles are tender.
- Facial swelling.
- Stiffness or pain in your neck and shoulders.
How Can Dr. Evanson Help Me With TMD?
Your mouth and teeth are part of the system that includes your temporomandibular joint. During a routine dental examination, Dr. Evanson will check for tenderness in your jaw muscles to see if TMD might be present. There are dental treatments that may help, since TMD can be caused by tooth and jaw alignment problems. There is no single cure for TMD, but there are several treatments that may noticeably reduce your symptoms. Dr. Evanson may recommend one or more of the following:
- Over-the-counter pain-relievers such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications can help relieve the pain caused by TMD disorder. In some cases, muscle relaxants might be effective.
- Muscle spasms and pain can be relieved with moist heat.
- If your jaw is swollen, cold packs will bring relief and reduce swelling.
- Avoid chewing gum or eating hard or crunchy foods or anything that overworks the jaw joint. Softer foods that minimize the need for chewing are recommended.
- Relaxation and stretching techniques to help control muscle tension and control the jaw tension in your jaw muscles are recommended.
- Gently massaging the muscles in your jaw will help release jaw tension.
- Learn ways to help eliminate stress, through training or counseling.
Make an Appointment With Dr. Evanson
If you’re concerned that you may have TMD, please make an appointment with Dr. Evanson to treat and eliminate the root cause of TMD disorder. Call our office at 720-409-0008 or contact us online. Located in Parker, our office is easily accessible to the surrounding communities of Highlands Ranch, Aurora, Castle Rock and Lone Tree.
You deserve relief from the pain and discomfort of TMD disorder, and the only real way to do that is through proper diagnosis and treatment!
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