801-756-0900Do you ever suffer from pain in your jaw? If so, you are not alone. Thousands of people struggle with jaw pain and do not know they could be suffering from tempromandibular joint disorder. Many of these things, like speaking, chewing and certain facial expressions, are possible thanks to the sophisticated temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, that hinge your jaw. Both joints also contain a small disk of cartilage, which allows a small amount of slip. This all works in concert with a series of small yet strong muscles and other connective tissues.
TMJ disorder, also known as TMD disorder, is a basic term used to describe discomfort, distress, or dysfunction in one or both of the temporomandibular joints. This can have several different related symptoms.
You can feel pain or soreness near the temples, in front of the ears, or within the joint itself if you struggle with TMJ. This is often accompanied by pain when biting down and applying pressure to the joints. You may also feel very stiff in the jaw. For some people, the temporomandibular joints might also click when chewing. While this is not always a direct symptom of the TMJ disorder, but it might be a related symptom.
TMJ disorder could also be caused by a past dislocation in one or both of the temporomandibular joints, arthritis issues, or from grinding your teeth at night.
The good news is there are many treatments to help with TMJ. Here at TMJ Therapy in American Fork, Utah, we are happy to talk to you about these treatments, to help you feel better and smile with ease! If you have questions, please call us at 801-756-0900. Our friendly and professional staff is always happy to help in any way we can!