The temporomandibular joints hinging your jaw are sophisticated. They incorporate a cartilaginous disk and a concert of muscles and ligaments to enable you to bite, chew and grind food. The TMJ disorder is a general term used to describe an ache, pain, or general dysfunction in these joints. Identifying the primary symptoms of the problem can help increase treatment success.
Many people who develop the TMJ disorder complain of an ache near their temples or just in front of their ears. This is often due to chronic muscle tension resulting from clenching the jaw frequently or grinding your teeth.
A pain in the joint when you bite down is also a common symptom. This can often be related to inflammation that has built up in the joint or the early onset of arthritis. It’s important to note that clicking in one or both temporomandibular joints isn’t necessarily a symptom of the TMJ disorder on its own. If you’ve suffered a past dislocation in one of the joints, it could lead to the TMJ disorder with clicking.
Grinding your teeth on a regular basis can cause an ache in the joints from inflammation. In time, it can also lead to soreness in the surrounding joints and ligaments.
If you are experiencing symptoms of the TMJ disorder in Arvada, Colorado, you should call 303.421.2696 to schedule an appointment with your dentist, Dr. James Bieneman, at Craniofacial Pain Center Of Colorado.
