TMJ is the anatomical abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, and everybody has TMJ. TMD is the abbreviation for temporomandibular disorder. However, TMJ and TMD are often used interchangeably even by those in the dental and medical fields.
The doctors and the oral healthcare professionals at Lutke Dental, located near you in Plano, TX, want to educate their patients, current and new, on the symptoms and the treatments for this common, and painful, condition.
Although TMJ is referred to as one joint, there are two hinge points in front of each ear. TMJ is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the base of the skull. It allows for the movement for us to form words, chew food, and open the mouth for breathing. TMJ is one of the most frequently used joints of the body.
TMJ can rotate, glide and hinge all at the same time within its socket.
TMD, the disorder, occurs when the series of tendons, muscles, and joint pads become inflamed causing chronic facial pain, headaches, and earaches.
TMJ disorders affect many people in different ways, and many sufferers go to a variety of doctors before realizing their pain is originating from the TMJ (the joint). Some of the symptoms can include:
Unlike other conditions, patients often get frustrated with visits to an ENT doctor for the earache, to the dentist for the tooth pain, and to the neurologist for the headache.
If any of the above symptoms are experienced, it is advisable, to begin with, your dentist for the initial diagnosis. Be sure to describe all symptoms and not just the ones you feel are pertinent to a dentist. A dentist trained in the conditions of TMJ disorders is the proper choice within the medical field to physically inspect the jawbone and to examine the bite as the jaws come together.
Below is the list of common treatment options in the order one should approach a TMJ disorder. All treatments should be a work in progress between a dentist, a TMJ disorder specialist, and an ENT doctor.
TMJ disorder is a complicated condition, and it may take one or more of the above treatment options to manage the symptoms or to completely heal the ailments.
If you believe you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this article and would like a consultation regarding TMJ disorders, then please contact the oral healthcare professionals at Lutke Dental, located in Plano, where new patients are always welcome.
Lutke Dental is trusted and highly recommended in managing the symptoms of TMJ disorders, as well as other treatments and procedures in general and restorative dentistry.