TMJ & TMD
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself.
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Some of the TMD conditions include:
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pain
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stiffness
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trouble chewing
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headaches
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difficulty opening and closing your mouth
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audible sounds
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TMD may be caused by by an injury to the jaw or TMJ, teeth or jaws that aren't lined up right, grinding your teeth, arthritis, stress or genetics. TMD can go away on its own within a couple of weeks, but it can also last for months or years.
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There are some measures that can be applied by the patient to ease or eliminate the problem including: pain relievers, change of diet, posture, habits, rest or exercise.
In many cases, custom night guards will do the job. Before taking custom impressions for your night guards, our dentist will assess your jaw's range of motion and palpate the area to detect any irregularities. X-rays and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan can help with diagnosis.
Questions?
732 283 0500