Sometimes, our jaw bones are overlooked. They allow us to talk, eat, and even help us breathe. They are a fantastic part of our bodies, really, and the amount of time we spend using our jaw bone is what makes a condition called TMJ disorder difficult. TMJ disorder, also simply called TMJ, makes the jaw hurt and lock, making it more difficult to live happily every day. Because you are a patient of Craniofacial Pain Center Of Colorado, though, we have good news for you; if you have TMJ, Dr. James Bieneman may be able to treat it.
So what exactly is TMJ? It stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction, which is a complicated way of saying the the joint at the top of your jaw bone isn’t working correctly. Normally, the joint functions by combining a hinge action with sliding motions. This hinge bone, or the temporomandibular joint, is covered with cartilage and cushioned with a shock-absorbing disk. TMJ can occur when the cartilage is damaged by arthritis, the disk erodes or moves or becomes misaligned, the joint is damaged by an impact. These can all lead to high levels of treatable pain.
You may have TMJ if there is:
— tenderness or pain in your jaw
— chronic facial pain
— pain around your ears
— pain while chewing
— joint locking that makes it difficult to open and close your mouth
— pain in the temporomandibular joint
Though many victims of TMJ just take pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, there are long term treatments for TMJ. These treatments involve joint lubrication, debri removal, joint replacement, and open-joint surgery. To find out more about how you can treat TMJ, make an appointment with our practice in Arvada, Colorado, by calling 303.421.2696 today.
