The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint connecting the mandible (lower jaw) and temporal bone of the skull. Disorders of the TMJ are frequently caused by diseases which cause infection or arthritis, injury to the jaw, or normal wear and tear. Patients can find hospitals and specialty offices for West Haven dentists who are experts in the TMJ and TMD field.
TMJ disorders (TMD) cause a wide range of symptoms such as face tenderness, limited movement of the jaw, lock-jaw, clicking or popping in the jaw, and difficulty chewing. Additionally, other general symptoms can occur such as fatigue, tension headaches, and dizziness.
The difficulty in treating TMD is that it is hard to diagnose and often is mistaken for other diseases. Symptoms of TMD can mimic health conditions such as sinus or tension headaches and gum disease. The disorder is usually tricky to diagnose because the symptoms vary wildly from one patient to the next.
Because TMD is hard to diagnose, doctors will utilize a wide range of tools to assess the patient. As in other health problems, the patient history and physical examination will be carefully analyzed. But furthermore, the patient will usually undergo specialized diagnostic testing such as an MRI or CT scan to determine if TMD is the correct diagnosis.
Once the patient has been determined to be suffering from TMD, doctors make recommendations for treatment. Usually, a night guard which is custom fit for the patient is prescribed. This split helps prevent night grinding, which causes jaw pain and teeth shearing. Another common treatment is TENS, electrical neuromuscular stimulation, which stimulates the jaw muscles and helps ease pain and discomfort in that area.
Health professionals and the general public should be aware about TMD and the symptoms, so that the disorder can be correctly diagnosed in future patients. Those suffering from jaw pain and frequent headaches will find relief for those symptoms but will also benefit from a higher quality of life.
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