Those who experience TMJ know how debilitating this condition can be. Even on days when the sensation resembles more of a discomfort than utter pain, TMJ is distracting, uncomfortable and, frankly, unbearable to live with for any length of time. Understanding TMJ comes down to knowing its symptoms, causes and treatments for TMJ disorder in Wichita, KS.

Symptoms of TMJ

Symptoms range from mild to severe and can fluctuate from person to person and from incident to incident. They include:

• jaw pain
• neck and/or shoulder pain
• jaw stiffness
• inability to open mouth wide
• headache
• difficulty opening and/or closing the mouth
• earache
• ringing in the ears
• toothache
• clicking or popping noise when opening/closing mouth
• changes in bite alignment

Causes of TMJ

There are a handful of possible causes for TMJ, which are:

• natural genetic development
• grinding of the teeth
• peculiar habit of moving the mouth when speaking
• unconscious clenching of the jaw on a chronic basis
• jaw injury
• arthritis of the jaw

There may be other potential causes of TMJ that aren’t listed here.

Treatment For TMJ

If you or a loved one suffers with jaw pain or discomfort, it could be TMJ. Rather than making an attempt at self-diagnosis, it’s important to seek a professional assessment and diagnosis. Effective treatment options are available and it’s important to get treated, since TMJ rarely goes away on its own and usually gets worse over time.

Your orthodontist may offer one or multiple treatment options, such as:

• mouth guard
• physical therapy
• prescription medication
• trigger point injections
• electronic pulse stimulation
• behavioral change therapies
• and more

Your orthodontist in Wichita, KS offers treatment for TMJ disorder. All you need to do is take the first step now and book your appointment.