What is "TMJ" or "TMD"?
"TMJ", is a catch-all term for a
variety of pain / dysfunction
conditions of the head and
neck. It was originally derived from "Temporomandibular
Joint", your jaw joints - once thought to be the source
of most of these ailments.
Today we know that there are many
causes of head and neck problems that may or may not be
related to the temporomandibular joint. For this
reason, although it is not as widely familiar, most
dentists use "TMD" (for temporomandibular disorders) to
more accurately describe the condition.
The chart below lists some of the
symptoms of TMD.
|
Musculoskeletal Signs and Symptoms
Do you suffer from any of
these? |
|
Headaches |
Clenching or grinding |
|
Jaw joint pain |
Facial pain |
|
Jaw joint noise or clicking |
Sensitive teeth |
|
Limited mouth
opening |
Chewing
difficulties |
|
Ear congestion |
Neck pain |
|
Dizziness |
Postural
problems |
|
Ringing in the ears |
Tingling of the fingertips |
|
Difficulty
swallowing |
Hot & cold
sensitivity of teeth |
|
Loose teeth |
Nervousness or insomnia |
| |
New technology now allows us to objectively evaluate the
muscles of the head and neck and various other factors
that may be affecting your bite. Based on this and
other information obtained from physical examination, we
can rule in or rule out your bite as a possible cause of
TMJ problems or headache pain with a high degree of
confidence.
You can learn more about TMD by
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