TMJ is a disorder caused when the temporomandibular joint, connecting the upper and lower jaw, becomes misaligned, tensed, or damaged. A likely symptom is the joint in your jaw clicking or popping repeatedly, as is common with TMJ in Grove City, PA. This sound is usually achieved when making repetitive motions of the jaw, like during a meal while chewing foods. While this may not necessarily be painful, it’s a sign that there could be a potentially displaced disc. If this is the case, then the muscles that are being actively used while moving the jaw are under much more tension than is considered normal. Muscle tension in the jaw can cause pain in the shoulders or head.
Other possible symptoms include a change in bite positioning, head and ear pain, or jaw locking. Jaw locking involves an individual’s jaw catching as it being extended open. Often, patients will have to wiggle their lower jaw until it has escaped and pops, to signify the unlocking of the jaw.
Many treatments for TMJ in Grove City PA have been introduced through dentistry. Mouth guards, bite therapy, and jaw exercises are the main approaches to administering relief to the patient. Often used in succession, the effectiveness of these will vary over time and treatment. Bite therapy is one of the first steps in diagnosing the causes behind TMJ in Grove City, PA. It helps dentists determine and identify the root cause behind the disorder. Stress is a key factor because it leads to jaw clenching and long-term disorders.
After the cause and severity have been diagnosed, treatment is introduced as a mouth guard. The guard is worn and functions as a resistance to jaw clenching in the patient, which will reduce the symptoms of TMJ effectively. Furthermore, there are jaw exercises that are designed to reduce muscle tension and the need to clench the jaw. Dentists will recommend that the patient repeats these exercises regularly in addition to wearing the mouth guard.
TMJ in Grove City, PA is more common than most people currently believe. Since symptoms are often overlooked or simply disregarded, it can easily be misdiagnosed or just ignored altogether. It is important to speak with a skilled professional who has experience with dentistry or facial disorders.
