TMJ Problems:

TMJ means Temporal Mandibular Joint.  The TMJ joint is located in front of your ear.  It is the location where your lower jaw attaches to your upper jaw.  It is the hinge where your lower jaw rotates with your upper jaw.  It functions similar to your knee joint.  If you place your index finger in front of you earlobe and you open your mouth you will feel the rotation of your TMJ joint. 

TMJ disorder is a misalignment of your lower and upper jaws or a failure of your joint to work properly.  It may caused by improper development, crooked teeth or bite, improper muscle function, mal aligned cervical spines and joint injury related to arthritis

What are the signs of TMJ? 

When your TMJ is not working properly, or there is a misalignment of your lower and upper jaws, you may experience many signs:  

Ø     Head aches

Ø     Ear aches

Ø     Referred pain to the neck and jaw muscles.

Ø      You may also notice clicking, popping and pain when you are eating or yawning.

 Stress, fatigue and clenching or grinding your teeth can aggravate all these signs. 

How can I be helped?

To help you with your TMJ problem, your dentist and his team of health care providers may use one or a combination of many treatments to help you have a pain free life.  These treatments may consists of:

Ø     Splint or night guard therapy

Ø     Orthodontic treatment

Ø     Oral surgery treatment

Ø     Chiropractic Care

The goal of one or a combination of treatments is to help reposition your jaw to a more stable, comfortable position.