It’s not unusual to see a new patient who complains of having jaw pain, some for many years. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located in front of the ear on each side of your head, connecting the lower jaw to the skull. The jaw joint is one of the most actively used joints in your body.
Very few of us enter adulthood with a perfectly-aligned bite. However, bite misalignment is the most common cause of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. Because muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues surround the joint, TMD can lead to many problems. These include headaches, migraines, ear ringing and neck pain as well as teeth clenching and grinding teeth during sleep.
Jaw pain can range from a dull ache to being so painful that it hurts to open your mouth to eat. In addition to bite misalignment, jaw pain can be a sign of more serious conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and neuralgia. Jaw pain is also considered to be a warning sign of heart attack.
When pain is experienced on one or both sides of your head in front of your ears, it’s likely TMD. In addition to bite misalignment, this disorder can be brought on by age-related wear and tear on the joints, jaw fracture, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sinusitis, or even an impacted or abscessed tooth.
When jaw pain persists for more than a week, you should assume it is not going away without treatment. We begin by determining the source of your painful jaws, headaches, etc. Often, simple measures, such as minor reshaping of selected teeth or a small, comfortable mouth appliance worn at night can resolve the issue.
Call for a free consultation so we can discuss the modern methods we use to help you overcome this problem, once and for all! Call toll free 1-866-9-Smiles.
