If you have TMJ disorder (a dysfunction that affects your jaw’s joints), then the discomfort you experience can vary depending on a number of different factors. For some patients, it means dealing with chronic jaw pain such as clicking and popping sensations every time they bite and chew. For others, that pain can be accompanied by chronic headaches and migraines, or the recurrence of pain and ringing in the ears. The reason why TMJ disorder feels different for everyone is the same reason why treatment for it can also vary – there are many different potential causes for the disorder.
What TMJs Do
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which you have two of on each side of your jaw. The joints are the hinges that your lower jaw swings on when you open and close your mouth, and to function properly, they have to move in sync. If one of them completes its movement before the other, then it will continue to absorb excessive pressure and eventually become damaged, forced out of alignment, swollen, and increasingly more painful.
The Source of all TMJ Pains
The source of your TMJ disorder is the damage to your jaw joints, but the source of the discomfort is the aggravation this damage causes to your craniofacial nerves. The largest of these, your trigeminal nerve, is located near your TMJs and can spread your jaw joint discomfort throughout the rest of your craniofacial structures.
How to Find Custom Relief
Exactly how your TMJs are affected will determine the best way to find relief. In many cases, that involves a custom-designed appliance that allows your jaws to rest more comfortably while you sleep. In others, treatment may involve correcting your bite’s alignment through mild functional orthodontic treatment.
Find Out How to Stop Your TMJ Discomfort
TMJ disorder affects everyone differently, which is why treating yours will require an accurate diagnosis and customized treatment options. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
