The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is your jaw joint.  It is the hinge that connects your lower jaw to the upper part ofour skull.  The joint is extremely complex and flexible allowing movement both up and down and side to side.  This allows us to talk, chew, yawn with a wide range of motion.  The muscles surrounding the joint control the movement and position of the jaw.

A temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a problem with the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.  Symptoms of TMD include:

• Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, neck or shoulders
• Limited range of opening the mouth
• Clicking or popping noises in the jaw
• Difficulty or discomfort chewing
• Headaches or migraines
• Swelling in the jaw area
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears
• Ear aches
• Toothaches

With so many varied symptoms it is not unusual for patients to visit many different specialists and undergo many tests before finally being diagnosed correctly.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above you may be suffering from TMD.  An experienced neuromuscular dentist  can perform a clinical examination to determine whether or not your jaw joint is the cause of your symptoms.   Treatment options for TMD will vary by patient depending upon the severity of the problem and the underlying cause.  I will discuss some basic, conservative self-care techniques in my next blog.  While these techniques will not replace proper treatment they may make you more comfortable until your appointment.

TMD problems do not typically “go away” and putting off treatment may only make the problem worse.  Please contact my Columbus, Ohio neuromuscular dental office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a consultation.