TMJ pain is more than a pain in the neck, it can be a pain in the neck, head and face! If you already know what TMJ stands for, chances are you’re among the unlucky folks who have had a problem with this powerful and finicky part of your craniofacial system. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, and it’s the powerful joint that controls the opening and closing of your mouth by moving your lower jaw (i.e. mandible).

People with TMJ problems often experience headaches, oral and facial pain, or even neck pain. Many of these symptoms can be identified and treated by a dentist.

Think back to your last dental checkup and you may remember the hygienist or dentist asking you if you ever experience pain or clicking when you open your mouth up wide. They may have also asked you to clench your teeth and then pressed on the sides of your jaw and asked if it was tender. This is how a dental professional checks for TMJ symptoms.

Because TMJ is often linked to teeth grinding and clenching, another way a the dentist or hygienist can check for TMJ symptoms is by looking at your teeth. The TMJ is a very powerful joint, and teeth that are frequently clenched together under these extreme forces start to show distinct signs of wear. The dentist will check for this wear during your routine cleanings and exams. If they see significant signs of a problem they may ask you more questions to see if you may be having TMJ issues. A common treatment for clenching or grinding is a mouthguard (sometimes called a nightguard if you wear it when you sleep). This can protect your teeth from wear and can also help absorb the forces exerted on your jaw, which can reduce or eliminate related headaches or facial pain.

Sometimes TMJ problems can be caused by an uneven bite instead of teeth clenching, though one tends to lead to the other. Particularly if you have jaw pain focused on one side, this may be a sign that you’re biting down more on one side of your mouth and your TMJ is overcompensating. Dentists can help analyze your bite and determine if this may be contributing to your problems.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, discuss them with us and we can take a look to see how we may be able to identify and relieve your TMJ symptoms.

What Is TMJ

The temporomandibular joints are the joints on either side of your head that connect your jaw to your skull & allow you to open & close your mouth, chew, & speak. Because it can move in many different directions, these joints are some of the most complex in your body. Any problems with these joints are also referred to as TMJ disorder, or just TMJ.

Symptoms of TMJ

Symptoms of TMJ can include:

• Jaw clicking, popping, or locking
• Headaches or earaches
• Pain when mouth is opened widely
• Tenderness of jaw muscles

The cause of your TMJ can determine which or how many of these symptoms you have. At most dental checkups, your dentist or dental hygienist will check for tenderness in your jaw muscles to see if TMJ might be present.

Causes of TMJ

TMJ does not always have an obvious cause, but there are a few common possibilities for the origins of a TMJ problem:

• Injury or dislocation
• Teeth clenching (often from stress)
• Arthritis
• Poor tooth or jaw alignment

How Can a Dentist Help?

While many probably think of dentist as just teeth doctors, we can’t treat you properly without looking at your mouth as part of a system. That system definitely includes your temporomandibular joint. A dentist can help in diagnosing your TMJ disorder, & may also refer you to a physician or a specialist dentist for further diagnosis.

Because TMJ can be caused by tooth & jaw alignment problems, there are dental treatments that may help. Your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for treatments like braces, which can help realign the teeth & the jaws so that your mouth can close in the proper position. Treatment form an orthodontist can alleviate TMJ symptoms in many cases.

If your TMJ comes from teeth grinding or clenching, your dentist may recommend that you wear a custom dental appliance. Often called a bite plate or a splint, this appliance will keep your upper teeth from grinding against your lower teeth. In addition to alleviating TMJ symptoms, this bite guard will prevent wear on your teeth from grinding that can lead to other problems.

Other treatments for TMJ include using hot & cold packs, taking anti-inflammatory &/or muscle relaxing medications, or learning relaxation techniques to reduce tension in your jaw muscles. In certain rare cases, TMJ may require jaw surgery to correct.

If you are concerned that you may have symptoms that indicate TMJ, please speak with your dentist about it. We want to get you relief from pain & discomfort as quickly as we can!